Mar Vista Community Forum

CRIME ALERT - 1/3/2003

Theft by False Pretenses.

CRIME REPORT From the official publication of the Pacific Area crime analysis detail.

Theft by False Pretenses. A Scam addressed to elderly men. 3 similar M.O. in in the past 18 days.

Location: #1, La Tijera and Knowlton on 01/03/03, and #2, Lincoln and California on 01/ 08/03.

Description: Suspect 1 Male, Black 5'9" to 6', 160 to 200 lbs, 50 to 60 years. Wearing Green fanny pack, dark colored jacket. Suspect 2, Male Black 5'9" to 6', 160 to 200 lbs.

M.O. In incident #1, the suspect approached the Victim claiming to have inherited a large sum of money due to the untimely death of his brother. S-1offered to give some of that money to the V, so the V can donate the money to a charity. The V then drove S1 to a service station where S2 was picked up/ Suspects then claimed that V needed to prove his solvency by withdrawing money of his own. after the V withdrew over $3,500. the Ss took the cash, wrapped it in a handkerchief and placed the handkerchief into the V's trunk of his car,the Ss then left the location. When the V went back to check the money in the handkerchief all that was located in it was cut up newspaper.

In incident #2, S1 approached the V asking where a Baptist church was located. S2 then approached S1 and V giving direction to the church. S1 stated that he had money he wanted to donate to the church and some money he wanted to give to the V to donate to his church. S1 then demanded that the V prove his solvency by withdrawing money of his own. The V withdrew $1999. and gave it to S1. S1 then took the money and claimed to place it along with his own money in the V trunk of the V car and left the location. When the V went to check the money in his trunk he found only cut up newspaper.

In both Cases S1 claims to be from South Africa and states that he cannot take the money that he inherited back to his country because the government will take it from him. Also, in both cases the Ss prey on elderly individuals over the age of 75 that they approach in the store parking lot.

Incident 3. Last week an elderly man was approached in a store parking lot on Sepulveda at 89th street by a suspect as noted above. Same M.O. V lost $8,900. dollars.

If you have information related to these Scams contact Pacific Theft Detective Waack at 310 202 4506.
If you prefer to be anonymous call the LAPD "tip line" and leave a recorded message. 310 397 8358

Regarding my meeting notice of the CPAB meeting and the statement that Westchester was recently number one in reported crime in the Pacific Division. A visit with the statistician shows that the reason the Westchester Area reports more crime, is because the large number of stolen cars that occurs at the Airport is included in the A67 report. Westchester A67 with 12 reporting districts and A73 with 14 reporting districts represents 38% of the Pacific Division. There are 43 other reporting districts in six basic cars. On a per capita basis Westchester is actually lower than the other reporting districts. I regret not doing the math before the statement.
Westchester is still one of the safest communities on the West side.

Doug Ehlers
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