Location: Sheriff's Headquarters, 833 S. Akers St., Visalia; Visalia Substation, 2404 W. Burrel Ave., Porterville Substation, 379 N. Third St.

Incident Date: 6/28/18

City: Visalia, Porterville

Posted by: Media Relations

Buying and selling items online has become a common occurrence. 

However, this may not be the safest practice. There are many unpredictable circumstances when buying things online and then meeting strangers to complete the purchase. Buyers and sellers don’t know who they are meeting up with and if they are going to get robbed or worse.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux’s No. 1 concern is public safety. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office can help monitor transactions by offering safe places to exchange items.

There are now safe exchange zones at the following locations:

- Headquarters, 833 S. Akers St., Visalia, at the north entrance and Headquarters Patrol at the northeast entrance. Parking is limited there.

- Visalia Substation, 2404 W. Burrel Ave., on the south facing Burrel Avenue and the east side of the building. In the parking lot on the east side, curbs are painted green to mark the parking spots most visible to the camera.

- Porterville Substation, 379 N. 3rd St., on the east side at the main entrance.

Look for the green-colored Community MeetUp Spot signs and be assured that the entire transaction is being recorded so if an issue arises there is evidence to back up a claim.