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By Joyce Farrell

September 11, 2023 – PERSONAL WELFARE ASSISTANCE
Police were flagged down by a woman on Fifth Street who stated that an elderly woman was looking for her grandchildren but was unable to provide the names of the children or her address. She was able to tell the police her name and birthdate and inform them that she was taking medication for her memory but that as her stress levels increase, it becomes more difficult for her to remember. She was able to direct the police to where she was staying, which was her sister’s home, and they provided her with a courtesy ride. The police spoke with the woman’s sister and were informed that there had been a miscommunication between the women.

September 8, 2023 – FRAUD
A Pelham woman reported that someone used one of her Citizens Bank checks to withdraw $902.23 at an undisclosed time and location. She contacted her bank and reported the fraud to the police to obtain a police report for the bank.

September 6, 2023 – POLICE MATTER
A woman reported that on the previous day as was walking on Highbrook Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m., a woman driving a gray Ford stopped and called to her from the vehicle, then opened the trunk and stated that she had something for the girl in the trunk. The girl told the woman no and ran off. 

September 6, 2023 – FRAUD
The Director of Finance of a local business reported that their computer network had been hacked and that they were unable to access one of their network’s PCs, which was on the premises and could not access any of their files. The finance director stated that on 9/6/23 at approximately 8:30 a.m. she noticed that in every file was a document labeled “READ ME.” When she opened the file, there was a message that all of their files had been encrypted, that they would have to pay for the decryption in Bitcoins, and that the price would depend on how fast the business wrote to them. The message claimed that after payment, the business would be sent the tool that would decrypt all of their files. The finance director informed the police that the cost of damage to their network would be approximately $5,000 and the cost of the computer about $1,000. The business’s IT representative believed that someone opened an email on that same computer, which led to a virus that encrypted the network and all of its files. He was attempting to figure out where the virus-carrying email originated and how to help the business access its files again. The Detective Division will follow up.

September 4, 2023 – HOTLINE CALL
Police responded to a hotline call from Fifth Avenue of a possible assault of a child by a suspect who displayed a firearm. There was no description of the suspect, but a bolo was issued for a gray 2019 Nissan.

September 4, 2023 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
An officer was dispatched to Walnut Avenue and found plastic bullets hanging from a tree. The citizen who reported them said that he felt uncomfortable because they were pointed at his house. 

September 1, 2023 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
Police were called to a store on Fifth Avenue. The store’s owner stated that a white man with dreadlocks and a beard and wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans had come into his store asking for money and was walking around Fifth Avenue doing the same. The suspicious party was located, but there were no warrants for him, so he was sent on his way.

August 31, 2023 – BURGLARY
A burglary was reported at a home on Maple Avenue. Upon arrival home, the complainant noticed the side door of the home was open and everything had been moved around. Stolen from the home were a gold Apple iPad Air 2 and a green and silver watch. The police entered the home and checked for suspects. The detective division was notified and responded. 

August 30, 2023– ATTEMPTED FRAUD
A complainant reported that she applied for a job with an Italian jewelry company and upon being hired was asked to open an affiliate bank account associated with her own. The bank account was to be used to gather funds from the company and then distributed to “clients.’’ Recognizing this as a “red flag,” the complainant investigated the company further and learned that the company did not send her a job application. Luckily, the complainant never submitted any banking information to the company, so she was not defrauded.