Colonial Heights is a suburb of Richmond, Virginia with a population of about 18,000. Police have long been aware of problems with indoor prostitution advertised online and local businesses are concerned with its detrimental effects.  To deter local prostitution activity, police have conducted web-based reverse stings.  For example, in April 2014, ten men were arrested for soliciting prostitution in the Southpark area as a result of an ad placed online by police investigators. The arrests were made at businesses serving the area. Investigators found a number of online posts advertising prostitution in the area, and that those who place the ads often stay in a city for a short time before moving to another. Police also worked with local businesses in the city beyond Southpark to find offenders.  The names, ages, and city of residence for the arrested sex buyers were released to the media.  The Prince George County Police Department and the Colonial Heights Commonwealth Attorney’s office assisted the special operations unit of the Colonial Heights Police Department with the investigations.

In January, 2022, it was announced that men had been arrested for soliciting prostitution in the Southpark area as a result of an ad placed online by police investigators. Colonial Heights Police Chief Jeffrey Faries said that the arrests were part of an operation that had been going on for a few months. The arrests, which occurred on April 28, were made at businesses serving the Southpark area. Faries said that the department became aware of the issue after a series of four prostitution arrests in 2013. One of the 2013 arrests was made in the back lot of a Southpark business where an 18-wheeler was parked.  Chief Faries said that the city doesn’t have the problem of prostitution being out on its streets, but that there were probably escort services being advertised for the city of Colonial Heights on the internet. Investigators found a number of online posts advertising prostitution in the area, and said that in cases of online prostitution, those who place the ads often stay in a city for a short time before moving to another locality. The Prince George County Police Department, as well as the Colonial Heights Commonwealth Attorney’s office, again assisted the special operations unit of the Colonial Heights Police Department with the investigations.