This report is for Sunday, April 26, 2015 through Saturday, May 2,
2015.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
There were 4 in Torrance including 1 in Southeast Torrance.
Monday, April 27th, 4:50 PM to 5:15 PM 24000 Block Huber
Avenue
Suspects posed as victim’s neighbors, forced their way inside her
residence,
asked to purchase her vehicle and then fled with her medication.
Hollywood Riviera
Friday, May 1st, 8:30 PM to 11:35PM 500 Block Via La Selva
Suspect entered open bathroom window and took cash, laptop and cell
phones.
North Torrance
Friday, May 1st, 2:20 PM 16700 Block Crenshaw Blvd
Suspect cut screen, entered open window and took TV and laptops.
Friday, May 1st, 10:47 AM 3700 Block Redondo Beach Blvd
Suspects knocked on front door and when victim, who is home does not
answer,
one of the suspects removed a window screen before suspects were scared
off. No loss.
AUTO BURGLARIES
There were 14 in Torrance and none in Southeast Torrance. 4 vehicles
were unlocked.
Third row seats were stolen from two vehicles and catalytic converters from
two other vehicles,.
AUTO THEFT
There were 7 stolen vehicles in Torrance and 1 in Southeast Torrance. A
2014 Mercedes Benz
CLA250 was stolen in North Torrance on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 AM.
Saturday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 3rd 236th St and Western
Ave
Stolen 68 Lincoln Continental
SCAM
Tuesday, April 28th 3500 Block Emerald Street
Suspects posing as Internal Revenue Service employees telephoned the victim
and
convinced victim to purchase prepaid Visa cards and provide the pin numbers
to pay
penalty or be arrested for tax fraud.
STOLEN BICYCLES
Again this week, there was another stolen bicycle. The incident was
in the 300 Block of Palos
Verdes Blvd on Thursday, April 30th during the day. Bikes were also
stolen in Lomita on April
30th and May 1st involving two males suspects in a red Chevy pickup
truck.
The Torrance
Police Department continues to receive reports of telephone scams. Suspects
will identify themselves as IRS agents, Southern California Edison workers, Law
Enforcement personnel, or other governmental agencies, in an attempt to get the
victim's attention. The suspects will then proceed with the scam and tell the
victim they owe money for unpaid taxes, electrical bills, warrants or bail for a
family member. If the suspects are successful, they will instruct the victim to
put money on a Green Dot card or any Pre-Paid Visa/MasterCard that can be found
at any supermarket or drug store. Once the victim gives the suspects the
numbers on the back of the card, the scam is complete and the victim will be out
the money that was loaded.
If you receive a call
of this nature, ask the caller for their name and agency, then hang up. Do not
call them back at the number they provide, but rather, obtain the agency's
official number via the internet or by calling information. When you call this
legitimate number, you will likely discover that the call was a scam. If you
continue to receive telephone scams, tell the caller to stop calling and that
you will be filing a report with your police department.
At no time will ANY of the above agencies ask for unpaid
bills/balances to be paid by a Pre-Paid card.
We have also had reports of suspects calling victims
telling them that a family member has been kidnapped and the suspect
demands money. The suspects are researching the victims to find out names of
the victims' family members to sound credible. If you receive a call regarding a
family member needing money, contact that family member first before taking any
further action.
For further information on these scams read the
following article from the Daily Breeze:
If you have any questions or believe you have been a
victim of a scam or fraud, please call the Torrance Police Department, Economic
Crimes Section, at 310-618-6363.
Torrance Police Community Affairs
John Bailey, President
SETHA
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