Incident Date:
Wednesday, April 16th, 2014
The next community meeting at Ingleside Station will be held on May 20, 2014. Thank you.
A person calling San Francisco residents identifying himself as a San Francisco deputy sheriff tells victims that he called regarding some sort of violation unknown by the victim and required money immediately to remedy the situation. For example, on numerous occasions, the “deputy” stated he worked in the warrants division and required several hundred dollars from residents to clear up old warrants or else another deputy would arrive at the residents’ address to arrest them. The “deputy” required victims to go to a local drug store, such as CVS, Walgreen’s, etc. to obtain a GreenDot MoneyPak (a pre-paid debit card used for in-store or online purchases) and load the card with several hundred to several thousand dollars. The “deputy” told residents to call back once they obtain the pre-paid debit card, scratch off the gray box to reveal the access codes then read the code to the “deputy” over the telephone.
As time went on over the past four weeks, we noticed that the amount “required” by the “deputy” increased from a couple of hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. As the caller tested the local response, he became more confident in this scam.
We have also received similar reports with the caller identifying himself as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The “FBI agent” states that victims need to send him pre-paid debit card information via telephone or else victims will be placed under arrest.
Related to these crime, but with a much wider scope, are people identifying themselves as Internal Revenue Service employees. These “employees” claim that victims owed massive sums of money in back taxes and required immediate funds – again, through use of pre-paid debit cards – to remedy the situation or face immediate arrest. In one instance, the “IRS employee” required the victim to purchase an $8000 Reload it pre-paid debit card and provide the card’s access information via telephone.
These are all illegal confidence schemes. The callers are confidence men, better known as con artists.
If you receive any such solicitations via telephone, please do your best to note the phone number used, time of day, the name the caller identifies him/herself as, and anything distinguishable about his or her voice.
Be advised that neither the Sheriff’s Department nor federal government solicit funds related to criminal justice matters via telephone calls and any outreach regarding such matters would be made in person or through post office correspondence.
If you feel that you were the victim of such scams, please contact the police immediately. While being duped out of money by fear of arrest can be embarrassing to admit, this is happening to your families, friends and neighbors. Do not be a silent victim.
Our Fraud unit is aware of – and investigating – this ongoing scam. The Fraud unit can be reached at 415-553-1521 Monday thru Friday during normal business hours.
Please contact the police at 415-553-0123 if you have received a phone call from such a con artist. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission for IRS-related scams at http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
The San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) is free training from the San Francisco Fire Department in how to help yourself and your neighbors prepare for and respond to a disaster by working together. The 20-hour training, taught by First Responders, includes personal preparedness, light search and rescue, disaster medicine, shutting off your utilities, and how to participate as a member of a neighborhood response team. NERT also offers continuing training for graduates and activities that support building robust neighborhood teams. For more information, visit the NERT website at http://sfgov.org//sffdnert, or contact Lt. Erica Arteseros at (415)970-2022 or sffdnert@sfgov.org
Ingleside District Nert Training
Lick Wilmerding HS
755 Ocean Ave
March 18, 6:30-10:00p: Class 1
March 25, 6:30-10:00p: Class 2
April 1, 6:30-9:30p: Class 3
April 8, 6:30p-10:00p: Class 4
school closed April 15
April 22, 6:30p-9:30p: Class 5
755 Ocean Ave
March 18, 6:30-10:00p: Class 1
March 25, 6:30-10:00p: Class 2
April 1, 6:30-9:30p: Class 3
April 8, 6:30p-10:00p: Class 4
school closed April 15
April 22, 6:30p-9:30p: Class 5
April 29, 6:30p-10:00p: Class 6
Are you someone who is interested in disaster preparedness and wants to help out your community while working hand in hand with law enforcement? Then the ALERT program is for you!
What is the A.L.E.R.T. Program?
The San Francisco Police Department has developed a volunteer citizen disaster preparedness program. The Auxiliary Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) is modeled after and works in partnership with the San Francisco Fire Department's Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT). The ALERT program will train members of the public to assist law enforcement in essential tasks after a major disaster. Such tasks may include: traffic control, foot patrol of business and residential areas, and reporting criminal activity. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and live, work, or attend high school in San Francisco.
Three steps to becoming an
A.L.E.R.T. volunteer:
1. Complete NERT training and receive certification. To register for NERT training courses please visit www.sfgov.org/sfnert
2. Once NERT certified, forward a copy of your NERT ID card to the ALERT program. sfpdalert@sfov.org
3. After clearing a basic background check the individual is eligible to register for ALERT training.
The next training class has been scheduled for May 3rd, 2014, from 8:00am – 5:00pm. This class will be held at the San Francisco Police Academy, in the parking lot bungalow.
Weather Related Crime Alert: Many residents are leaving their windows and doors open in an effort to keep cooler as the temperature increases during these nice sunny days. Be extra careful, especially when you leave your home, paying attention to secure the windows and doors when you leave. Burglars are always looking for the easiest way inside your home. Don’t give them the opportunity for the easy access. Make sure to secure these entry points and leave them locked when you are not around.
Crime Alert: As of the start of April ‘2014 there has been an increase in auto boostings in the Noe Valley, Glen Park and Bernal Heights Area. Ingleside officers have stepped up patrol in these areas but, we ask you that you do your part to prevent from being a victim. Take extra precautions to avoid a criminal from window-shopping inside your car. Never give them a reason to break into your car and steal your belongings. Try to park in a well lit area and always lock your doors and secure your windows. Never leave possessions in plain view and never leave important documents inside your car that contain personal information. Remember, if a criminal is unsuccessful and is not benefitting from his criminal activity, the thief will move on, thus making your neighborhood less of a target.
Arrests:
8:23am Guerrero/27th D.U.I
Officer Rand was dispatched to a traffic accident which later turned into a hit and run. Information received by dispatch stated that a vehicle had hit two vehicles and then a house and was trying to flee the scene. The suspect vehicle became disabled as a result of the collision and the driver was now trying to flee the scene on foot. Several witnesses chased down the driver and held him until the police arrived. Officer Rand arrived and took the driver into custody. The driver told Officer Rand that he had no identification and had no driver’s license. While talking with the suspect, Officer Rand could see that the driver showed several symptom of being intoxicated along with a strong smell alcohol on his breath. The victims who got hit as well as several witnesses said that the suspect driver rear ended a vehicle, which collided with a third vehicle that was in front. The suspect backed up and tried to get away and ended up driving up on the sidewalk and hitting a house. The suspect continued to drive away but his vehicle was so badly damaged that that the vehicle could no longer continue. The driver then tried to make his getaway on foot before being run down and held by several witnesses. The suspect driver was taken to the hospital for some minor injuries then booked on several felony charges including hit and run, driving under the influence as well as having no driver’s license and no insurance. Report Number: 140315109
5:50pm Persia/Mission Battery
A victim trying to catch the bus was assaulted by two strangers. The victim told Officers Snadow and Dilag that he was trying to catch the MUNI bus at Mission and Persia when he was attacked. He said that an unknown male suspect stepped in front of him preventing him from catching the bus. The victim trying to avoid any altercation tried to go around the suspect but was blocked once again. The victim again tried to move around but was grabbed by his shoulder. The victim tried to break free but a second suspect appeared. Both suspects then attacked the victim for no reason. The victim told the officers that this was not a robbery because the suspects didn’t try to take any of his property. After the attack, both suspects walked away and into an apartment building a couple blocks away. The victim followed while keeping his distance and called the police. When the officers were interviewing the victim both suspect walked out and were pointed out by the victim. The officers immediately arrested both suspects who were booked and charged with the assault. Report Number: 140316981
10:02pm Unit Blk Harrington Firearm
Several residents inside an apartment building called the police to check on a family member who was acting erratically. Officers Garon-Fermo and Hauscarriague arrived and were directed to the garage. Inside they located the family member who was rambling and saying, “They’re trying to kill me! Over there! Come here, I’ll show you. They set up camera’s here in my refrigerator. They are poisoning my air.” The officers, for officer safety, decided to continue talking with the family member outside and conducted a search on his person. Officer Garon-Fermo found a fully loaded Smith and Wesson handgun concealed inside his waistband. They also found a small amount of methamphetamine inside his room. The suspect was arrested and booked for the weapon violation and possession of narcotics. Report Number: 140317707
Serious Incidents:
No Incidents to Report.
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
1:30am 400 Blk Geneva Theft
3:30am 100 Blk Prague Stolen Vehicle
8:00am 100 BLK Cresta Vista Burglary
9:00am San Jose/30th Hit and Run
1:20pm Mission/Ocean Theft
2:00pm 1600 Blk Alemany Fraud
4:00pm 100 Blk Farragut Battery
6:00pm Unit Blk Teddy Stolen Vehicle
6:00pm Unit Blk Alpha Stolen Vehicle
6:30pm 200 Blk Ripley Stolen Vehicle
7:30pm 800 Blk Rolph Theft from Vehicle
8:10pm Unit Blk Montezuma Burglary
9:24pm 2000 Blk San Jose Harassing Phone Calls
9:30pm 1700 Blk Dolores Burglary
11:10pm Unit Blk Cordova Vandalism to Property
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
