The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Westlake Police Share Fraud Warnings
Fraud is in the news again, and Westlake Police are sounding a warning on several schemes active in the area:
On 9/29/18 a resident reported being the victim of a “Mystery Shopper” fraud. The victim received an unsolicited email offering to pay her to become a secret shopper purportedly to evaluate local companies. The victim was sent a check which she was to deposit in her account. From these funds she was to buy gift cards from various stores in the area. She would then send photos of the activation codes on the cards to her “employer” See Level Human Experience. The victim bought several gift cards before she was notified by her bank that the initial check was fraudulent.
On 10/2/18 WPD received a report from another resident of a Craigslist Fraud. The victim posted a bike for sale on the web site. A prospective buyer from California offered to buy the bicycle but sent the victim a check for well over the asking price along with very specific instructions on how to handle the check and with whom to text before depositing it. The victim was to return to the buyer money that was not needed for the bike and shipping via certified check. The buyer also offered to send a “moving team” to pick up the bike. Luckily, the victim realized this was a scam and did not send the buyer any money or set up shipment of the bicycle.
On 10/3/18 another resident reported being the victim of an IRS Scam. She had received a voicemail on her phone indicating that she owed money to the IRS and charges would be brought against her if she did not call the phone number back and work out the problem. The victim did return the call and spoke with several different people for over 2 hours. They told the victim that she owed $5000 and an arrest warrant would be issued if she did not pay. The perpetrators even went so far as to scare the victim by asking who would take care of her children if she was in jail for this tax debt. Unfortunately the victim was frightened into purchasing several gift cards and reading the access codes to pay for her made up tax burdens. By the time the victim checked the story, the gift cards had been depleted of all money.
Charges Possible in Facebook Post
Westlake Police received a report at 5:56 p.m. on Sept. 28 that a Facebook Post was circulating indicating that someone had attempted to abduct a 1-year old child from the play area of Barnes and Noble at Crocker Park.
The post reportedly said that the suspect, a female with a shaved head, had grabbed the baby but a customer had thwarted the snatching.
“Being that the police department had not received any reports of this incident from the parents, witnesses, the store, or Crocker Park Security, officers were dispatched to the home of the person who posted the information. Investigation revealed that the incident had never occurred and the posting was completely false,” report Police. A report was generated for the city prosecutor to rule on possible charges of Inducing Panic or Making False Alarms, both misdemeanors.
Classy Lady
On 9/30/18 at 12:22AM, a resident of Royal Forest called to report that he witnessed a female exit a vehicle, urinate on a lawn, get back in the driver’s seat of a car, then strike a curb before she parked on the street. Officers located the female as reported and noted that she had signs of alcohol impairment. They also noted that, although the female operator did not realize it, the lower half of her dentures was laying on the driver’s seat. The driver believed that she was in Avon or Avon Lake. She was field tested and arrested for OVI. On station the 46yo from North Olmsted tested over 2 ½ times the legal limit.
Pot Leads to Arrest
On 10/1/18 at approx. 1:19PM a complainant reported that 2 persons were in a vehicle smoking marijuana while parked in the lot of the Red Roof Inn on Clemens. Officers arrived to find the couple. While there was no evidence of marijuana use, the male occupant, a 25yo from Lorain, had an active warrant for his arrest from this department. He was arrested and transported to the jail.
Attempted Theft – Request for Idenity
On 9/20/18 at approx. 7:34PM, the owner/operator of the BP at Columbia and Detroit Rds called WPD to report an attempted theft of 4 cases of Red Bull Energy Drink. A few minutes earlier, a black male entered the store and brought 2 cases of Red Bull to the counter. While he was distracting the clerk with small talk, a white male entered the store and gathered 2 additional cases of Red Bull from the coolers. The white male walked toward the doors and the clerk and owner noticed that he was attempting to conceal himself behind other merchandise. They went to speak with the white male, who appeared that he was going to leave with the cases. The W/M suspect said that he was “not going down for this” before he dropped the Red Bull and fled across Detroit Rd. During the commotion the black male also left the store without merchandise.
We have surveillance pictures of the white male involved with the attempted theft. If you have any identifying information on the male please call the Westlake Police Department non-emergency line at 440-871-3311.
Stalled Car, Slurred Speech
On 10/4/18 at about 2AM an officer located a vehicle parked with its hazard lights activated at the corner of Clague and Hilliard Rds. The occupant, a 25yo from Fairview Park, said that the vehicle had run out of gas but that he had help coming from Sandusky. Unfortunately for him, he explained his predicament with slurred speech. The officers administered field sobriety tests and arrested the disabled motorist for having physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The vehicle was towed and the operator submitted to a breath test which showed he was over the legal limit.
$16,000 Missing
On 10/02/2018, at 15:16 hours, a Bay Village resident came to the station to report he had written a check to himself, for $16,000.00, from one banking account and mailed it to another bank. The check did not arrive. The bank the check had been sent to had no record of the check being received. The bank from which the check had been issued reported the check had been cashed and the $16,000.00 withdrawn from the account. The case has been referred to the Detective Bureau.
Open Bottle Inventory
On 10/07/2018, at 03:00 hours, an officer stopped a black Dodge Caliber on Lake Road near Breezewood Drive after observing multiple traffic violations. As the officer spoke to the driver, he noticed an unsealed glass bottle of Ciroc Vodka on the driver’s floor between her feet. When asked about the bottle the driver said, “Oh shoot, that was my friend’s. She is not with us anymore.”
When asked if she had been drinking the 24-year old from Lorain said she had beer and mixed drink. After failing the field sobriety tests she was arrested OVI. While performing the vehicle inventory prior to the tow, another open bottle of alcohol, Paul Mason Brandy, was located under the driver’s seat. After being processed at the police station the female was released on personal bond to a sober adult.
Driver Ticketed for Passing School Bus
On 09/26/2018, at 06:59 hours, a white jeep passed a stopped school bus on the west end of Bay Village Lake Road that had its red flashers operating and preparing to pick up children. The bus driver later came to the police station to give a statement. The schools also provided a copy of a video recording of the incident. The registered owner of the vehicle was contacted, advised of the violation and a ticket was issued.
The Bay Village Police would like to remind all motorists to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to their driving. Please avoid engaging in activities that may cause you to become distracted while driving. The schools are back in session and the children deserve your undivided attention.
Prowler Scared Off
On 09/24/2018, at 23:32 hours, a couple were in their upstairs bedroom of their home on Bradley Road. The wife heard noises outside and when she looked out the window, she saw two persons attempting to enter vehicles parked in the driveway. When she yelled out that she was calling the police, the perpetrators got into a vehicle and left west bound on Lake Road. Officers responded but were unable to locate the vehicle or suspects.
