Incident Date:
Thursday, May 8th, 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:
2:29am 4400 Blk Mission D.U.I
Driving with your headlights off at night and spinning your tires at a stoplight are almost guaranteed to get the attention of police officers. Indeed, it did get the attention of Ingleside Officers Ferronato and Biagini who, while stopped at the intersection of Avalon and Mission, noticed the driver of an older model Honda driving with only its parking lights on and spinning its tires when accelerating away from the intersection on Mission Street. The officers stopped the vehicle to question the driver about his behavior. But, first they asked for his license, registration and proof of insurance. When he couldn’t provide any of the documents, the officers knew this traffic stop would not end with just a warning. Upon closer examination, Biagini and Ferronato noticed that the driver had bloodshot eyes and there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He was asked to perform several roadside sobriety tests. He failed them all. A breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol level almost three times the legal maximum. He was arrested and taken to Ingleside Station where he was charged with driving under the influence and several other vehicle code violations. Report number: 140386025
Serious Incidents:
12:01am 5800 Blk Mission Robbery
A man riding a bicycle behind her on the sidewalk caught the attention of a woman walking northbound on Mission Street. When the bike rider caught up with the woman at the intersection of Acton Street, he knocked a radio out of her left hand. The woman turned, while picking up the radio from the sidewalk, and said, “What is your problem? That is not how you treat a lady”. But the suspect was unconcerned about his lack of chivalry telling the woman, “Give me all the stuff in your bag.” The victim remained defiant responding, “No, I am not going to give you anything.” The suspect then escalated the situation removing a knife from his pocket and waving it in the victim’s face. The victim, fearing for her safety said, “I am going to call the police”, and ran across the street. Fortunately, the suspect didn’t follow her and got back on his bike escaping eastbound on Acton Street. Report number: 140385889
Vehicle and Other Incidents:
7:30am Unit Blk Francis Fraud
10:22am 300 Blk La Grande Recovered
11:25am 100 Blk London Fraud
1:49pm 900 Blk Brussels Recovered Vehicle
2:00pm Mission/Pope Hit and Run
2:48pm Unit Blk Lawrence Vandalism to Property
3:30pm Unit Blk Zircon Burglary
3:32pm 4100 Blk Mission Theft from Vehicle
3:42pm Sanchez/Cesar Chavez Traffic Collision
5:47pm 300 Blk Moultrie Theft from Property
7:57pm 100 Blk Precita Trespassing
8:47pm Mission/Pope Hit and Run
9:58pm Mission/Richland Traffic Violation
10:20pm Geneva/Cayuga Traffic Violation
11:05pm 3400 Blk Mission Warrant Arrest
Burglaries with suspect description:
No Incidents to Report.
