The Town of Seneca Falls Police Department has established a location outside of the police department as an “Exchange Safe Zone.” This zone was not only created to complete an online transaction between buyers and sellers but for custody and property exchanges between individuals. Anyone can make these exchanges in the designated parking spaces marked with the “EXCHANGE SAFE ZONE” signage. While we recommend that these transactions occur during daytime hours, the parking lot is well-lit if you need to meet after dark. Also, the entire parking lot, especially the parking spaces, has video surveillance at all times.
This area may not work for every online transaction because of the size of the item(s) being exchanged; we would like to remind those using the area that the area is open to municipal building staff and the general public.
The police department is located at 130 Ovid Street Seneca Falls, New York, 13148. These designated parking spaces are clearly marked on the south side of the building directly opposite the police department’s public entrance.
The idea for the exchange zone is to cut down on potential fraud and robberies that can be associated with these types of transactions, as well as keep the peace between individuals while conducting property and custody exchanges. While available for you to use to complete your exchange, our personnel may not participate or act as official witnesses in the transactions nor are they available for legal advice or allowed to settle civil or pricing disputes between parties involved in transactions occurring at this location.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when conducting such transactions:
- Only do transactions with local buyers/sellers
- Do not go to conduct a transaction alone
- Make sure a friend or family member is aware of the transaction detail
- Insist on meeting in a public area like our safe transaction zone
- Do not go into someone else’s house and do not allow them into yours
- Complete the transaction during daylight hours
- Be extra cautious when buying or selling valuable items such as vehicles and jewelry
- Only use cash or money orders to complete your transactions
- Trust your instincts, if it sounds like a scam, it probably is
- If somebody is unwilling to come to the police department to do a transaction, it is perhaps not a legitimate transaction
Safety is our # 1 priority. In the event of an emergency during an exchange, dial 911. Our police department is staffed 24/7; however, police officers may not be in the office at all times after hours. A 911 Dispatcher can notify one in the event of an emergency at any time. An emergency call box is located outside the police department entrance also.