Crime & Safety
Police Blotter: Rental Scam, Vandalism
Sierra Madre police are investigating a rental scam involving Craigslist and third party thieves who pose as property owners.
Rental Scam
The Sierra Madre Police Department is investigating a rental scam that has been taking place in the Los Angeles region and hit Sierra Madre on Saturday.
Police say a Sierra Madre property on Victoria Lane was posted for rent via the website Craigslist by a scammer. The scammer's intention was to trick somebody into renting the property from them, though they were in no way connected to the actual property owner, according to Sgt. Enrique Gonzalez. The scammer's motive was likely to steal money from an interested renter in the form of a bogus security deposit, first month's rent or other rental fees.
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A similar scam has occurred throughout Los Angeles and the U.S., according to the L.A. Times. Sgt. Gonzalez said that sometimes the scammers target properties that are currently for rent by the owners, while other times the homes are not for rent at all.
Vandalism Via Cement
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Drying cement used to repair a broken sidewalk in the 200 block of Auburn Ave. was the target of vandalism on Thursday, according to police reports. An unknown vandal used a sharp object to etch the words and numbers "Tazz 5-17-12" into freshly-poured cement. Homeowners discovered the message and called the police to file a report. The city will take care of repaving the vandalized cement, said Sgt. Gonzalez.
Unlicensed Drivers
Two unlicensed drivers were stopped in Sierra Madre on Friday: one at the intersection of Sierra Madre Blvd. and Baldwin Ave. at 12:23 p.m., and the other at the intersection of Sierra Madre Blvd. and Sunnyside Ave. at 9:37 p.m.