Crime Watch: Two Scam Alerts, Metal Thefts, More

Scam Alert: Duo Offers Car Repairs, Follows Resident

A Roseville resident avoided being the victim of an "unwanted car repair" scam that is reported in our region every once in a while.  

Around 1 p.m. on Dec. 26, a resident was leaving a business in the 300 block of North Sunrise when two men in a gray 2008 Honda Civic parked behind his vehicle, blocking him in. The men approached the resident and offered to fix a dent in his vehicle for $150. The resident declined, and the two suspicious men were very insistent, refusing to let him leave.  

Finally, in order to get away, the resident told the suspects he'd go to an ATM and get cash, and let them repair the dent. The resident drove away and called police.  The suspects continued to follow the resident and pester him, leaving only when officers arrived in the area.  

Officers weren't able to locate the suspects. One of the suspects went by the first name of Peter, and was described as a brown-complexioned man in his 30s, 5' feet 9 inches tall and 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  No description was provided for the second suspect.  They were driving a gray 2008 Honda Civic 4-door sedan.

Roseville Police released a tip if you happen to be in this situation: The resident did the right thing by refusing the unsolicited service, getting away from the suspects and calling police.  Sometimes auto repair scammers will make it appear a car needs repairs (by crawling underneath the car and loosening the oil drain or spraying oil on the undercarriage, for example) and will then try to pressure the car owner into paying them for unneeded or unwanted "repairs."  Sometimes scam-artists will go through residential neighborhoods spotting "problems" with roofs or other issues, and will then try to talk themselves into a home, or to pressure homeowners into paying cash on the spot for unsolicited or unneeded home repairs. Never accept "drive-by" repair offers, and report such suspicious activity immediately to police.

Scam Alert: Caller Claims to be from City

On Dec. 26, a Roseville resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the City of Roseville.  The caller told the resident that her electric bill was past due, and that she needed to make a payment immediately by providing bank account or credit card information over the telephone.  The resident checked her current bill and verified it was not past due.  Fortunately, she didn't provide the scammer with any bank account or credit card information.

Catalytic Converter, Metal Thefts Continue

Roseville Police report that they are continuing to receive a lot of reports of thefts of catalytic converters and other metal thefts. This past week, a number of water backflow prevention valves were also stolen from areas in east Roseville. These are large, costly brass and copper plumbing devices that are usually installed outside commercial businesses and apartment complexes. If you see anyone loitering near or tampering with plumbing, wiring or other utility equipment, please get a good description of the suspect and the suspect's vehicle, and call 911 immediately.

Sometime before Dec. 26, someone stole a manhole cover from a parking lot in the 1800 block of Cirby Way.

Between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, a catalytic converter was stolen from a Honda Element car in the 200 block of Pacific Street.

Between 6:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 28, someone stole a catalytic converter from a Toyota Tundra pickup parked in the 1800 block of Taylor Road.

Between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 29, catalytic converters were stolen from a Nissan pickup and a Suzuki SUV, both in a parking lot in the 1800 block of Taylor Road.

Sometime overnight Dec. 29/30, someone stole two back flow preventer valves from commercial property in the 1700 block of East Roseville Parkway, and 3 valves from commercial property in the 2200 block of Douglas Boulevard.

Sometime Dec. 29 and Jan. 3, someone stole copper water pipes from outside a business in the 2000 block of Taylor Road.

Sometime before Dec. 30, someone stole six metal barbeque lids from community barbeques in an apartment complex on Micro Court.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 30, someone stole a catalytic converter from a Toyota pickup parked in front of a home in the 1600 block of Vernon Street.

Between Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, a water backflow prevention valve was stolen from a business in the 300 block of North Sunrise.

Overnight on Dec. 30/31, someone stole 3 backflow prevention valves from commercial property in the 2100 block of Professional Drive.

Between 4:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Jan. 1, someone stole a backflow valve from commercial property in the 2400 block of Olympus Drive.

Batteries Stolen from Boats, Trailers, Recovered

At 2:52 a.m. on Dec. 29, an alert resident called police to report a couple of men who were snooping in a boat that was parked in the 2200 block of Americana Drive.  One of the men was seen inside of the boat, then putting something into the trunk of their car. The caller provided a description of the suspects' vehicle.

A responding Roseville Police officer stopped the suspects on Foxrun Lane near Oakborough Avenue, and recovered five batteries that had been stolen from boats and trailers in the neighborhood.  A 20-year-old male from Rocklin and a 21-year-old male from Sacramento were arrested on suspicion of vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property and related charges.

School Vandalized with Paint Balls

Between Dec. 22 and 27, someone shot numerous yellow paint balls on the Cathryn Gates Elementary School campus. A house nearby in the 600 block of Twinwood Loop was vandalized in the same way between Dec. 26/27.

Rowdy Party Leaves Few with Minor Injuries

At 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, officers responded to a large disturbance outside in the 300 block of Princeton Court, associated with a party at a home in the area. Due to reports we received of injuries and weapons involved, several Roseville and Rocklin police units responded. Most of the group had dispersed upon officers' arrival. There were a few minor injuries, but no one wanted medical assistance, and those who were still on scene helped clean up the debris from the fight.

Residential Burglaries:

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Sometime between Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, an unknown burglar kicked in a door and ransacked an apartment at 701 Gibson Drive, taking cash and a laptop computer.

Sunday, Dec. 25

Sometime between 1 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Dec. 25, someone burglarized a home on Dowsby Court. It appears the unknown burglar entered by breaking a glass door leading to the backyard.   It's unknown at this time what was taken.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Sometime between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 28, a home on Albury Court was burglarized. It's unknown at this time how the burglar gained access, or what was taken.

Commercial Burglaries:

Between Dec. 23 and 25, someone broke into a dentist's office in the 1000 block of Sunrise Avenue by breaking the front glass door. It's unknown at this time what, if anything, was taken.

At 1:18 a.m. on Dec. 29, officers responded to a burglary alarm at a restaurant in the 7400 block of Foothills Boulevard. They found that a burglar had removed a pane of glass from the door and entered, taking cash from the cash registers. The suspect or suspects fled before officers arrived.

At 5:47 a.m. on Dec. 29, officers responded to a burglary alarm at a restaurant in the 1700 block of Santa Clara Drive. The unknown burglar pried the front door and took a small safe containing cash and coins.   The suspect (or suspects) fled the area before officers arrived.

Vehicle-Related Crime

At 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 28, a security guard spotted someone running from a burglarized vehicle in a movie theater parking lot on North Sunrise Avenue. The security guard called police and provided a good description of the suspect and the red Chevrolet Monte Carlo that picked the suspect up.  Officers stopped the suspect vehicle on East Roseville Parkway at Secret Ravine Parkway, and arrested a 19-year-old male Citrus Heights resident on suspicion of theft, possession of stolen property and related charges.  Officers recovered a portable GPS unit and clothing that had been stolen from the vehicle at the movie theater parking lot, and a jacket that had been stolen during the same time frame from an unlocked vehicle in a restaurant parking lot on Douglas Boulevard.

At about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 28, officers checked on an unoccupied Honda Accord parked on E Street, and found that it had been recently reported stolen from Citrus Heights. They watched the car, and a few hours later a known suspect got into the car and drove away.  Officers followed the car for a short distance, until the driver got out on Dudley Drive and fled on foot.  Officers conducted an extensive search of the area with the help of a Placer County K9 unit, but were unable to locate the suspect at the time.  Officers know who the suspect is, and are continuing their efforts to locate and arrest him.