Incident Date:
Wednesday, April 30th, 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
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.
Heat wave: Many residents are leaving their windows and doors open in an effort to keep cooler as the temperature increases during these gorgeous 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. A third of all the burglaries committed in the Ingleside district during the month of April were due to open garages and unlocked or open windows. Also, remember to keep hydrated with lots of water!!
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:
8:30am 300 Blk Marietta Burglary
A vigilant neighbor helped nab two burglary suspects early this morning. The neighbor told Officers Sullivan and Padilla that he happened to be looking out his front window when he saw an unfamiliar looking SUV parked in front of his neighbor’s driveway. He then saw one subject lingering around the driver side of the vehicle. The neighbor was suspicious, so he grabbed his camera and started taking pictures of the subject the vehicle and the license plates. The neighbor then decided to go and open his garage door to take a closer look. While standing in the open garage he heard what sounded like wood breaking from the back of his neighbor’s house. Fearing his neighbor was being burglarized he immediately called the police. Several units, including Officers Leong, Tillan, Ng, Chang, Wong, Hopkins, Uang, Wilson and Sergeants McDevitt quickly responded to the burglary in progress and set up a perimeter. Officer Chang and Wong tactfully made their way to the back of the house and came in contact with one of the suspects as he was trying to make his escape. Suffice to say he was taken into custody. A second suspect was caught by Officer Tillan and Ng hiding by a parked vehicle just down the block. Both suspects were identified as the burglars and taken to Ingleside Station where they each were booked on several felony charges. The suspect vehicle was towed from the scene. Report Number: 140357816
8:14pm 100 Blk Highland Drugs
Officers Canning and Cabillo were driving near Highland and Patton Street when they observed a subject standing next to a fence. The officers took a closer look and couldn’t believe that the subject was urinating out in the open public. The officers stopped their patrol vehicle and stepped out to have a word or two with the subject. A computer check showed the subject to be on active felony probation with a search condition. Officer Canning went ahead and searched him and found a small quantity of methamphetamine inside one of his pockets. He was immediately placed under arrest and taken to Ingleside station where he was charged. Report Number: 140358767
11:55pm 300 Blk Arbor Drugs/Firearm
A call of a possible burglary in progress sent Officers Chew and Lustenberger to the 300 block of Arbor Street to investigate. The caller said she saw two or three subjects enter the lower unit of her home then walked back out headed towards the corner. The officers arrived and spotted one of the subjects standing in a doorway. He was immediately detained. The officers tried to obtain the subjects name but the subject kept giving false information as if trying to conceal his identity. The officers decided to take him to Ingleside station where his identity could be revealed and conducted a search prior to being transported. Officer Lustenberger searched the subject and found a small quantity of methamphetamine, paraphernalia and a loaded .25 caliber pistol in his pockets. Once they arrived the officer found his true identity and was booked on several felony and misdemeanor charges. Report Number: 140359345
Serious Incidents:
No Incidents to Report.
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
1:30am Unit Blk Prospect Stolen Motorcycle
8:05am Alemany/San Juan Traffic Collision
8:10am Unit Blk Carrizal Theft of Bicycle
8:45am 600 Blk Campbell Recovered Vehicle
9:00am 2000 Blk San Jose Vandalism to Vehicle
11:30am Sunnydale/Santos Hit and Run
12:20pm 1000 Blk Athens Recovered Vehicle
3:30pm Marietta/Teresa Traffic Collision
4:00pm La Grande/Avalon Stolen License Plate Tab
5:15pm Omar/Myra Hit and Run
10:00pm 600 Blk Miramar Theft from Vehicle
10:40pm Mission/30th Warrant Arrest
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
