Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

CRIME ALERT - 1/3/2003

From the Pacific Area Crime Analysis Detail.

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

Description of Suspects: 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.

Location

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

Modus Operandi (Method of Procedure)

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.