Incident Date:
Wednesday, April 9th, 2014
The next community meeting at Ingleside Station will be held on May 20, 2014. Thank you.
Fraud Alert: We have noticed a dramatic rise in a specific type of fraud case over the past four week period.
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:
12:11am 700 Blk Avalon Firearm/Drugs
An alert citizen helped police make a significant arrest. The citizen called dispatch about two subjects who had been drinking in a nearby park and now were sitting in a parked car in front of his home. Ingleside Officer Cabillo responded and soon noticed a Nissan without a front license plate and its engine running. There were two occupants in the front seat but he had trouble seeing them because the front windows were illegally tinted. Officer Cabillo approached the car and when he asked the man in the driver’s seat for his license, Cabillo noticed the strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The driver said he didn’t have a license and that the car belonged to his girlfriend seated in the passenger seat. It was then that officer Cabillo noticed a third occupant, a man, seated in the back seat. When Cabillo opened the back door to receive the back seat passenger’s identification he was startled to see a Glock pistol fall from the passengers lap onto the floor. Officer Cabillo drew his weapon, while radioing for backup, and asked for everyone to step out of the car with their hands up. Ingleside officers Peregrina and McMilton soon arrived. During a search of the back seat passenger, the officers discovered a second firearm along with a quantity of cocaine, some prescription narcotics, and a cell phone. The cell phone had numerous text messages from individuals asking to buy narcotics. He was taken to Ingleside Station and booked on a variety of weapons and narcotics charges. Report number: 140293884
2:06pm Mission/Theresa Stolen Auto
Sometimes a small thing will lead to an important arrest. Ingleside Officer Conceicao was on routine patrol when she spotted a car, with two occupants, and a brake light malfunction. She decided to stop the car to advise the driver of the problem but, before doing so, she ran a computer check on the vehicle. It was fortunate she did because the Scion was reported stolen. Officer Conceicao radioed for backup and several Ingleside officers soon arrived to help with the traffic stop and arrests. The driver was on adult probation and his woman passenger had a warrant for her arrest. Report number: 140295460
9:51pm 4500 Blk Mission Burglary Tools
An illegally parked car caught the attention of Ingleside Officers Ma and Dominguez. The vehicle was parked in a handicap zone and did not have a handicap placard or handicap license plate. Ma and Dominguez ran the plate through the department’s data base and the car turned up stolen. The officers removed the driver and placed him in handcuffs. Inside the vehicle they discovered a “shaved key” used by car thieves to steal vehicles along with a quantity of methamphetamine and a glass pipe used by thieves to ingest the drug. The suspect was transported to Ingleside station where he was booked for car theft, possession of burglary tools, and narcotics violations. Report number: 140296929
Serious Incidents:
3:27pm Paris/Persia Attempted Robbery
A man on his way to Walgreens was approached by a robber. The victim told Ingleside Officers Johnson and Aslam that he was walking north on Paris Street, near the intersection Persia, when the suspect walked past him then quickly turned around and pointed a gun at him. The suspect told the victim, “Empty out your pockets”, but the victim refused and replied, “I am not doing that”. The victim then quickly ran to a nearby store and called police. Report number: 140295705
11:30pm Onondaga/Cayuga Robbery
A robbery victim told Ingleside Officers Lozano and McCall that he was walking home from the Balboa Park BART station, texting on his IPhone, when he heard footsteps rapidly approaching from behind him. The footsteps belonged to a robber who suddenly confronted the young victim with a gun telling him, “Give me all you got”. The suspect, who was quickly joined by an accomplice, grabbed the victim’s IPhone and started searching through his pockets. When they didn’t find anything in his pockets, they snatched his backpack and ran away warning the victim, “If you follow me, I’ll shoot and kill you”. Inside the backpack were the victim’s wallet, California identification card, a credit and debit card, and a book. Numerous Ingleside units unsuccessfully searched the area for the suspects. Report number: 140296991
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
1:00am 300 Blk Winding Stolen Vehicle
9:56am 500 Blk Precita Assault
10:30am 300 Blk Miramar Burglary
10:44am Unit Blk La Grande Recovered Vehicle
1:15pm 400 Blk Oxford Stolen License Plate
3:50pm Delano/Seminole Hit and Run
4:00pm 200 Blk Burrows StolenVehicle
5:00pm 3300 Blk Mission Battery
7:00pm Wilder/Diamond Theft from Vehicle
7:30pm 4200 Blk Mission Theft from Vehicle
7:56pm 50 Phelan Battery
8:00pm 200 Blk 29th Stolen vehicle
9:30pm Unit Blk Mount Vernon Stolen Vehicle
9:51pm 2500 Blk Mission Recovered Vehicle
11:00pm Unit Blk Regent StolenVehicle
11:59pm Geneva/Edinburgh Hit and Run
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
