Incident Date:
Sunday, May 11th, 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:
No Incidents to Report.
Serious Incidents:
12:03am 5600 Blk Mission Resisting
A woman walking down the street with her juvenile daughter, and an open container of beer, told Ingleside Officers Garon and Hauscarriague that she was teaching her daughter how to pick up trash from streets. The woman could not explain why the beer she was holding was still cold, but her companion told the officers that the three had just left a nearby party and the beer belonged to the suspect. When the officers asked the woman for identification she refused to supply any. She also told the officers she would not sign a citation for consuming alcohol in public. She attempted to escape but the officers quickly detained her and placed her in handcuffs. She was cited for consuming alcohol in public and resisting arrest. Report number: 140394329
2:00pm 200 Blk Cortland Theft/False Pretenses
An employee received a call at work from a man who said the PG&E electricity at her home was going to be shut off in an hour unless she paid $757 immediately. The woman told the man on the phone that she had already paid her bill. He said that the utility had no record of the payment. The woman offered to go to PG&E and pay in person but the suspect said that wouldn’t work and that she needed to buy a ”Green Money Pack” for that amount and give him the number on the card. She did and later, after reading the Ingleside Station newsletter warning, realized she had been scammed. Report number: 140395236
10:07pm Silver/Mission Carjacking
A motorist parking his car was the victim of a violent carjacking. The man told Officers Dominguez and Lozano that three men approached him as he was getting out of his car. One hit him on the back of his head with an unknown object. Another pulled his shirt over his head while the three suspects struck several blows to his head and chest. The suspects took his wallet, cell phone and car keys. A Mercedes SUV pulled up and one suspect jumped into the Mercedes and pulled away while another jumped into the victim’s car and escaped. Several Ingleside units searched the immediate area for the suspects and the stolen vehicle without success. The victim was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment then released. The police department’s Crime Investigation Unit has taken over the case. Report number: 140396488
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
12:15am Genebern/St Marys Hit and Run
2:00am 4000 Blk Mission Stolen Vehicle
12:00pm 600 Blk Peralta Recovered Motorcycle
12:09pm 700 Blk Lisbon Recovered Vehicle
1:15pm 300 Blk Teddy Recovered Vehicle
5:00pm Diamond/Bosworth Hit and Run
5:00pm Bayshore/Arleta Traffic Collision
7:00pm 4300 Blk Mission Stolen Vehicle
7:00pm 4300 Blk Mission Stolen Vehicle
8:00pm Hanover/Allison Vandalism to Vehicle
9:00pm 1100 Blk Bosworth Stolen Vehicle
10:03pm Silver/Mission Stolen Vehicle
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
