Key Points
- Victoria Police has established exchange zones outside 24-hour police stations across the state, specifically for in-person transactions of items bought or sold online.
- Currently, there are 35 sites in regional and metropolitan areas, marked as designated exchange zones with CCTV coverage and well-lit areas for added security.
- Victoria Police initially noticed a rise in robberies, thefts, and assaults related to online trading in 2020 during the pandemic, even before lockdowns, with smartphones being a common high-value target.
