Sheriff’s Office offering safe zone for online transactions

The Sheriff’s Office is joining the Key West Police Department and now offering the lobbies of its substations and headquarters building as safe zones for residents making online transactions or to anyone buying or selling in person.

Those who are worried about giving strangers their home address — or meeting with strangers in general — to make transactions can now do so in a safe place. The rise in popularity in websites such as Craigslist and ebay among others have changed the way many make transactions, especially during the holidays.

Sheriff Rick Ramsay said both the buyer’s and seller’s privacy is protected in this way.

“I saw Key West Police Chief Sean Brandenburg’s plan to offer this service and I thought it was a fantastic idea,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I’m happy to announce the Sheriff’s Office is also on board. Myself and Chief Brandenburg want to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to make every resident safe from Key Largo to Key West.”

County residents who wish to use one of the Sheriff’s Office substation lobbies can do so during working hours between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

• Administration Headquarters

5525 College Road

Key West, FL 33040

305-292-7000

• Freeman Substation

20950 Overseas Highway

Cudjoe Key, FL 33040

305-745-3184

• Marathon Substation

3103 Overseas Highway

Marathon, FL 33050

305-289-2430

• Islamorada Substation

86800 Overseas Highway

Islamorada, FL 33036

305-664-6480

• Roth Building

50 High Point Road

Tavernier, FL 33070

305-853-3211