Teen arrested trying to sell stolen iPhone to undercover LPS officer at Safe Exchange Zone

Jun 20, 2019 | 12:53 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Safe Exchange Zone is just that – a place for online buyers and sellers to safely exchange goods directly in front of Lethbridge Police Headquarters. There are cameras and everything.

It’s probably not the best place for an alleged criminal to try and do so, though.

Lethbridge Police have charged a 17-year-old male with one count of possession of stolen property, after they recovered an iPhone that had been reported stolen.

Police say the phone’s owner saw it for sale on a local swap and buy site June 13. The phone had been taken from an office building along the 1100 block of 2 A Ave N.

They then confirmed the phone belonged to the owner and an undercover officer offered to meet the seller in a parking lot of a local restaurant.

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According to LPS, the seller declined, and insisted the transaction take place at the Safe Exchange Zone. When the male showed up, he was promptly arrested.

The seller can not be identified because he is under the age of 18. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court Aug. 30.

The Safe Exchange Zone is made up of two parking spaces directly in front of Lethbridge Police Headquarters. It’s an area designated for parents to pick up and drop off children in custody matters, or as a way for people to buy and sell goods in a safe manner. Cameras are also in the area and provide monitoring 24/7.

by Lara Fominoff