Ottawa police are urging people to put safety first when buying and selling items online over the holiday season. There have been 153 personal robberies reported to the Ottawa Police Service so far this year, up from 126 reports in 2024. Police say 30 personal robberies this year have connected to people buying and selling items online. “These types of crimes have historically increased leading up to and including the holiday season,” police said in a media release. The Ottawa Police Service offers the following tips for completing online transactions with strangers: Police warn last-minute changes to a meeting location to complete a transactions should be a red flag, and recommend walking away from an exchange if you’re asked to go to a second location. There are Ottawa Police Service Safe Trade locations located at the following locations to complete online transactions:
