Incident Date:
Tuesday, May 13th, 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:
8:46am Diamond/Bosworth Theft
A victim came to Ingleside Station at 9:00pm and told Police Service Aide Busalacchi that earlier in the morning she boarded the 44 O’Shaughnessy MUNI line at Mission and Silver Avenue and sat near the rear exit doors. As the bus continued on its route the victim said she proceeded to play on her Iphone 5. When the bus pulled into the bus stop at Diamond and Bosworth, a suspect who was on the bus grabbed her phone out of her hands and quickly exited the bus. The victim said that the incident happened so fast that she was in shock and unsure of what to do. The victim decided to go home and contacted MUNI, who in turn advised her to make a police report. The victim told PSA Busalacchi that her phone could not be tracked because she did not have a tracking application on her phone. Report Number: 140402217
5:16pm Sunnydale/Hahn Robbery
A victim headed home was driving down Sunnydale Avenue when he had to come to an abrupt stop. The victim told Officers Obot and Phillips that he had to stop for a 6 to 9 year old boy who was standing in the middle of the street. The victim said he had his windows rolled down due to the extreme heat when he suddenly felt an impact on the right side of his face which caused extreme pain. The victim realized he had just been struck by a one gallon plastic container filled with water. The victim then got out of his vehicle to tell the little boy to move when he was hit by several water balloons. The victim was then surprised when he was being assaulted by five older suspects. During the assault the suspects rifled through his pockets and took $400 dollars in cash. During the attack the victim was able to get to his feet and started running away where he flagged down the officers about a block away. Several units responded and searched the area to no avail. The victim was subsequently taken to a local hospital to get treat for minor injuries. Report Number: 140401708
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
9:54am 1700 Blk Sunnydale Driving with Suspended License
10:30am Mission/Highland Traffic Collision
12:30pm 200 Blk Casitas Trespassing
3:20pm 1700 Blk Sunnydale Vandalism to Property
5:30pm 500 Blk Carter Stolen Vehicle
5:59pm Unit Blk Brookdale Vandalism to Property
6:00pm 200 Blk Mullen Stolen Vehicle
6:30pm 400 Blk Fulton Stolen Vehicle
7:05pm 700 Blk London Vandalism to Property
10:22pm 900 Blk Ellsworth Recovered Vehicle
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
