Police in Chester have started tracking “online robberies” as a new category of crime, writes Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In the last year, police departments across the country have taken steps to stop an increasing number of robberies that originate online.

Since January 2017, police in Chester have logged 28 online robberies in which the victim was a buyer or a seller of some type of merchandise. Items have included dirt bikes, iPhones, and other electronics.

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Typically, a buyer and seller arrangement between two parties is made online, through Craigslist or a free, mobile app. A time and meeting place is coordinated; however, the transaction turns out to be a trap or setup in which one of the parties is robbed of cash and/or merchandise.

Of the 28 online robberies in Chester, 25 involved a weapon. In several of those cases, the victim was shot and injured.

In some areas across the region, including in Upper Darby, police departments have seen success after designating secure locations, often called safe zones, for online transactions. The safe zones are under 24/7 surveillance, which serves as a deterrent for criminals.

Read more about the rise of online robberies in The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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