HTNA Crime Report from the RPD
RPD Alert from June 29, 2009.
Attempted Burglary of Habitation, 06/29/09 Monday, 2:16pm, 400 block Grace, 2 burglars knocked on the front door of the residence. Resident stated she did not recognize the subjects so she did not answer the door. After a knocking for a few seconds the 2 burglars got into a waiting newer model Ford Explorer with large chrome rims and drove away. The vehicle then pulled behind the residence. The two men who were knocking on the front door entered the gated back yard and began to look around. One of the men walked up to the door at the back steps and appeared to be looking through the window. Resident became scared, set her alarm and left through the front door. Approximately 15 minutes later resident went back to her house and noticed a screen was missing off of one her back windows.
Suspect Description: Hispanic males 18-20 years old average height and weight. Wearing a dark t-shirt and unknown pants. The Second suspect was wearing white t-shirt and black shorts. The driver was a Hispanic male and was wearing a white baseball hat.
Don't wait to call Police, call 911 immediately and I know I'm repeating myself, but always acknowledge a knock at the front door. Keep you phone in your hand and call 911 if something is not right.
RPD Alert from June 26, 2009.
Attempted burglary, 800 block of Fleming Trail, 6/26/2009 (Friday), at 11:40am, burglars repeatedly rang the door bell at the location. Resident did not know the subjects so they did not answer the door. The burglars went to the back of the house, two of them were looking in windows while a third had pulled open the screen door and then tried to open the sliding glass door. The resident opened the sliding door blinds which scared the burglars away. No damage or property taken.
Suspect descriptions: All three burglars were black males, 18-22 years of age, around 5'10", average builds wearing tank tops and close shaved heads. The suspect vehicle is a small, older model, 4 door red vehicle with what appeared to be a tan roof, vehicle was clean looking.
Reminder: Always acknowledge a knock at the door, let the person knocking know that someone is at home. Report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 911.
IDENTITY THEFT ALERT
As you know, identity theft is a huge problem these days. Frequently mail theft is used to obtain personal information to kick off the crime spree. This link and attachment is to show you that there is a device on the market that can help guard against mail theft. RPD does not endorse any products. This particular product is the only one I've seen that can be installed into an existing mailbox without having to tear down or replace what you have now; a big plus for those that have a brick mailbox. Security mailboxes can be purchased from home improvement stores if you want to replace your existing one.
Follow this link to a story that aired on Channel 5 about the product.
Crime Watch Patrol Application
If you are interested in joining the Crime Watch Patrol please complete an application form and submit it to the receptionist at the Richardson police department for David Spigelmyer.
Click here to download the application.
McGruff® and the "Take a Bite out of Crime" slogan are registered marks of the National Crime Prevention Council.
Home Repair Scams
Home repair scams are most often perpetrated against senior residents, probably more often than we are aware. Many scammers drive neighborhoods looking for people working in the yard, taking out the trash, or chatting with a neighbor. Their preference is elderly women living alone. Once identified, the scammer usually makes contact at the door with some story about doing some previous work at the location. The scammers will offer to spray the roof with a “special sealant,” or to resurface the driveway with some “leftover materials from a job down the street”…and at a specially discounted price. A verbal agreement is often reached at the start. However, when the job is finished, the scammers then demand much more money than was originally quoted. Many residents are physically intimidated into paying, just to get the scammers out of their homes. Roofing scams and driveway repair scams have been reported in our area.
What can you do to protect yourself or someone you care about?
- Never provide personal, banking, or credit card information over the phone unless YOU initiate the call. Just hang up the phone.
- Always verify anyone who calls or comes to your home unsolicited to offer a service. Check the phone book or call Information for the business number and call the company yourself.
- Never contract with or allow unsolicited door-to-door sales or repair people inside your home without independent verification of whom they are and for whom they work. Always get a written contract. Check references, or ask neighbors whom they use for a service.
- Shred all personal and financial information before discarding, and drop important correspondence into a blue postal collection box.
- You don’t have to pay up front to claim a prize. If you do, you have not won anything.
- Always be wary of “you must decide now,” or “I’ll send a courier to pick up your check right now,” or “I need you to wire the money.”
- Check on your senior neighbors, particularly those living alone. Keep them informed and warn them frequently about scams.
- Call the police if you suspect you are being scammed.
- Make a police report if you have been scammed, no matter how embarrassed you may be now. You might save a friend or neighbor from making the same mistake.
Experts estimate that consumers lose $40 billion per year to telemarketing fraud alone. More than half of that money comes from retirees living on limited income and finite savings. Furthermore, only 8% of all scams, cons and frauds are ever reported to law enforcement. That means many billions more are lost to con artists in “pigeon drops,” home repair scams, bank examiner scams and the like, that go unreported either because the victim was too embarrassed to tell anyone or they never realized they were scammed.
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For more information on scams, cons and frauds, contact the Richardson Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit at (972) 744-4955.