Incident Date:
Monday, May 5th, 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:
9:14 am 28th/Castro Theft
A construction worker helped police nab a thief. The worker told Ingleside Sgt. Springer and Ingleside Officers Barrera, Redmond, and Curry, that, while working on a home under construction, he noticed a man peering into his parked truck on the street. The suspect opened the door and removed a red bag containing construction tools. The worker yelled “Hey” and the man dropped the tools and ran away with the construction worker in pursuit. The worker was unable to catch the thief so he started walking back to the construction site while calling police. When he reached the 500 block of 28th Street, the worker noticed a vehicle in the street with the engine running and no one inside. The officers soon arrived and were interviewing the victim when he suddenly shouted out, “That’s him. That’s the guy”. It was the suspect walking back to his idling vehicle. Soon thereafter a witness arrived on scene who said he saw the suspect a few blocks away take off his jacket and throw it on the ground. The suspect also abandoned a satchel containing construction tools. The witness saw the suspect turn around and walk in the direction of his abandoned vehicle. The suspect was arrested for theft and transported to Ingleside Station for booking. Report number: 140371101
10:19pm 100 Blk Laura Drugs
Family members called police because they were concerned about another family member who was drinking heavily, using cocaine, and brandishing a knife. Ingleside Officers Paras and Shugars responded and searched the home for the suspect but were unable to find him. One family member told the officers that the suspect may have jumped out a bedroom window and into the backyard. The officers searched the backyard but didn’t find the man. He was found however in a neighbor’s backyard where he quickly dropped the knife and surrendered to the police. The officers found a small quantity of cocaine in one of his pockets. He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for evaluation and treatment before being transported and booked at the county jail. A computer check revealed several outstanding warrants for his arrest. Report number: 140373276
Serious Incidents:
2:00am Brazil/Lisbon Robbery
A man walked into Ingleside Station to report a robbery that occurred two days before. The victim told Ingleside Officer Morgante that while walking home Saturday evening he was approached by two men, one of whom had a gun. The men commanded the victim to “Give me your money” and then proceeded to take his cell phone and wallet from his clothing. One of the suspects then told the victim, “Give me your pass code” to which the victim replied, “Which pass code? I don’t know what you’re talking about”. The suspects then struck the victim in the left eye with the gun and punched him several more times in the face with their fists before running away. The victim went home and then to Kaiser Hospital in South San Francisco for treatment of his injuries. He returned home and waited two days after the robbery before going to Ingleside Station and reporting the crime. Report number: 140372068
9:51pm 100 Blk Putnam Robbery
A woman walking to a co-worker’s house, while using her phone, was confronted by three robbers. The victim told Ingleside Officers Ferronato and Dominguez that one of the three men said, “Give me your phone and your purse”. The victim refused saying, “No, get away from me”. One of the suspects then forcefully pulled the purse from her hands and, before running away with his accomplices said, “Don’t scream. I have a gun”. During the escape the three suspects were startled by a man on the street who yelled at them forcing the suspects to drop the purse before continuing their escape. The man picked up the purse and took it back to the victim. Report number: 140373527
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
8:15am 400 Blk Faxon Hit and Run
9:09am 100 Blk Moffitt Fraud
9:30am 500 Blk Portola Theft from Vehicle
10:00am Eugenia/Folsom Hit and Run
12:00pm 100 Blk Amazon Traffic Collision
12:43pm Congo/Monterey Traffic Collision
1:22pm 300 Blk Benton Recovered Vehicle
1:45pm 5400 Blk Mission Threats
2:19pm 400 Blk Monterey Threats
3:30pm Unit Blk Rotteck Bicycle Theft
4:00pm Unit Blk Stoneman Recovered Vehicle
4:00pm 400 Blk Leland Stolen Vehicle
6:30pm Hazelwood/Joost Stolen Vehicle
7:00pm 1100 Blk Girard Stolen Vehicle
7:29pm 3400 Blk San Bruno Warrant Arrest
9:15pm 400 Blk Cayuga Theft from Vehicle
11:09pm Cortland/Bradford Hit and Run
11:11pm 1400 Blk Cortland Recovered Motorcycle
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
