Police impersonators pull over, rob 2 men in Visalia

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Armed robbers impersonating law enforcement officers terrified two victims overnight in Visalia.

According to Visalia police, the two victims were at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and County Center Drive around 3:30 a.m. Sunday when they got pulled over by a white unmarked vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. But those emergency lights weren't the real thing -- only a decoy to lure the victims.

The two suspects -- one of whom was armed with a gun -- were in a white SUV. They robbed the two men, but luckily no one was injured.

Neighbor Nicole Garza was shocked to hear about the crime because she didn't hear anything Sunday morning, but says generally this is a good neighborhood.

"I see cops around here all the time, so I pretty much feel safe. It's a very active street for cops to go up and down," said Garza.

Incidents like this have happened in Tulare County in the past. Investigators have told Action News that if you're faced with a situation like this, you're advised to never stop in a dark area. If you're uneasy about the situation, feel free to ask for the officer's name, ID and badge. And keep your phone handy in case you need to call and verify the officer with the police department.

The two suspects in the white SUV haven't been arrested. If you have any information about this case, you're asked to call the Visalia Police Department at (559) 734-8117.