The following scam comes from the state crime summary:

Con Scheme Targets Seniors

AnchorBank recently received several reports from older customers that attempts were made to con them out of significant amounts of money.  The caller poses as a relative in trouble, often stranded in some way.  They claim to be in desperate need of immediate funds.  The caller then convinces the customer to withdraw cash and wire funds via Western Union, usually out of the country.  In the example detailed below, an AnchorBank customer lost over $20,000 to this con scheme earlier this week. 

 A caller posing as the customer's grandson called them in a desperate situation.  He claimed to have gotten his girlfriend pregnant.  They went to Canada to get a discrete abortion, and the "insurance company" was holding their passportsuntil they paid $5,000 cash for the high-priced procedure.  After some further conversation, the grandparents were convinced and withdrew cash from the bank.  They were questioned by the branch staff, but they were adamant that the caller was truly their grandson and that he was in serious trouble.  They insisted on the funds.  Later that day, their "grandson" called again, saying that the "insurance company" was requiring more money.  They wired another $5,000 to Canada.  Two more desperate phone calls later and they had been conned out of more than $20,000.  The imposter had also promised to wire some of the money back to them when he got home, and convinced them to relinquish their account information as well. 

 A common question asked about this scheme is: "How did they get the name of the grandson?"  While there are several possibilities, in the most likely scenario, the victim accidentally reveals that information during the first call.  The scammer might begin the call with, "Hi, it's me."  To which she may reply, "David, is that you?"  Then the scammer has the necessary information to continue.  If she asks who is calling, the scammer hangs up and tries another number.  Obviously, even if they have to try 50 numbers to find their mark, this scheme can be very lucrative.

 If you receive a call like this, DO NOT give out personal information or financial information.  Call the Police Department and contact your relative directly.

 

It seems that it is time for a reminder regarding handicap parking spaces.  Throughout the day hours the Greenfield Police Department receives many calls about people without handicap placards parking in handicap parking spots.  Some of these complaints involve non-handicap individuals and some involve handicap persons not displaying their placards.  Either way, this is a very frustrating situation for handicap drivers trying to park in a designated handicap parking spot.

Handicap individuals who have parking priviledges granted to them have been assigned either a handicap license plate or a handicap placard.  Both of these need to be properly dislayed in order to use the designated handicap parking spots.  If a license plate is assigned it should be properly affixed to the vehicle.  If a placard was assigned, it needs to be hanging from the interior rear view mirror.  Furthermore, the handicap parking spot can only be utilized when the vehicle in the parking spot is being used to transport the handicap individual assigned to the placard or license plate.  Family or friends using a handicap indivduals vehicle are not allowed to park in a handicap parking space unless the handicap individual is with them.  The number on the placard allows the police to find out who the placard is assigned to.

The handicap parking spot includes the area marked for the vehicle as well as the hashed area on either side of the parking spot.  This hashed area allows the handicap individual to get in and out of their vehicle.  This is not an area for motorcycle parking or vehicle parking.  The hash marks indicate it is not for parking of any kind.

Our society has granted handicap individuals specific priviledges  to help ease some of the day to day struggles that they face. Adhering to the parking laws can help alleviate some of the stressors handicap people face.  It can keep you from receiving a citation and possible towing of your vehicle for violating these laws.

This is timely information that I received from Inspector Wildish.

For release June 18, 2008Contact Cecilia Gilbert, Department of Public Works Communications Manager, (414) 286-3261  Public Warned about Utility Imposters Milwaukee area residents should be mindful of persons who try to gain access to their homes by posing as utility workers. Utility imposters may carry “official” looking credentials and often work in pairs.  The latest scam involved persons who claimed to be investigating floodwater in homes. The Milwaukee Water Works received three calls this week from customers who reported a person claiming to be a utility employee at their door, asking to be let in to check for flood water and damage. None of the residents allowed the persons to enter but instead called the water utility to report the incidents. The Milwaukee Water Works then notified the Milwaukee Police Department. Protect yourself and your family from scam artists who pose as utility employees by following these tips:

• Do not open your door to someone you do not recognize. Do not allow anyone to enter your home if you are not sure of his or her identity.
• Ask to see photo identification (I.D.) through a window. Milwaukee Water Works and other utility employees and contractors carry photo I.D. Legitimate employees will be happy to show you their I.D. if you ask, or call the utility office to verify their identification.
• Call the Milwaukee Water Works (414) 286-2830 if you are unsure about a person’s identification or to verify work to be done at your home. Call the police if you believe the person is an imposter.
• Do not allow anyone to enter your home claiming to collect a past-due bill, inspect plumbing fixtures, or to sell utility products such as a meter or other equipment. Milwaukee Water Works employees do not engage in door-to-door sales, do not collect a past-due bill in person, and do not deliver rebates or refunds.
• Advise your elderly loved ones, friends, and children about what to do if strangers approach their home and ask to come in.

 On June 16, a resident reported a man appeared at a home near 68^th and Capitol, identified himself as a Milwaukee Water Works employee, and asked to be allowed inside to check for flood damage. Two other residents reported similar incidents June 17. A woman tried to gain entry at a home in the 3100 block of South 9^th Street and a man approached a home in the 2600 block of South 13^th St. In all cases, the residents refused to allow the man or woman inside, and called the Milwaukee Water Works to report the incidents. 

If you believe that there is a scam artist at your residence, please call your local police department.

I want to pass this information on from the National Crime Prevention Council.  There is good information on keeping your home and neighborhood safe.  I got this from their website. 

Home and Neighborhood Safety

Well I think Spring is finally here!  People are opening their windows, walking their dogs, airing out their laundry and even mowing their lawns.  People that you haven't seen all winter are coming outside to enjoy the beginning of the warm season.  For most this is a pleasant time to exchange greetings and begin planning neighborhood events.  For others it is the beginning of a long hot summer of neighbor problems.  I would like to offer a few easy considerations to help minimize your neighbor problems.

1) If you have your windows open and you are playing music inside your residence, be cognizant of how loud the music is so you are not disturbing your neighbors.

2) Before cutting or trimming border property foliage speak to your neighbor about your plans and if necessary try and determine who's property the foliage is on.

3) When mowing your lawn try and keep your grass clippings off the neighbors property.  Believe it or not, this is a concern that the police are often asked to resolve.

4)  If your dog is "taking care of business" on your neighbors lawn - clean it up!  This is not only a courtesy but also the law.

5)  If you have your dog outside it should remain in your yard.  If it is barking continuously put it in the house.

These are some of the regular summer neighbor complaints the police are sent to.  Many of these concerns should be handled by neighbors respectfully speaking to each other to resolve these issues.  In the past, I have been sent to these types of calls to resolve these issues and after listening to the complaint I would ask, "So what did your neighbor say when you brought this to their attention?"  The response was often that they had not spoken to their nieghbor at all.  When I have spoken to the other party in the complaint I have often heard, "He could have just spoken to me.  He didn't have to call the police."  So, maybe some respectful communication and compromise can lead to a happier neighborhood.

Lastly, if your attempts at neighborliness are not working, the City of Greenfield does offer mediation through the Greenfield Mediation Center at no charge to residents.  For more information dial (414) 271-5464.

Enjoy the warmer weather in a friendly neighborhood you helped create!

I recently received an e-mail from Matt asking about the proper protocol for proceding through a four way intersection which is controlled by stop signs.  The question specifically asks if more than one vehicle is at the intersection at approximately the same time, who gets to go first?  According to state statute 346.18 the vehicle to the left needs to yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.  I'm sure Matt is now envisioning this scenario and looking at his hands trying to figure out who gets to go first!

Instead of trying to justify who gets to move first I would suggest considering safety and courtesy prior to proceding through marked or unmarked intersections.  Many of the intersection related accidents that I have gone to have involved someone being in too much of a hurry to get somewhere and safety and courtesy took a back seat to recklessness and impatience.  The amount of time spent at an intersection being safe and courteous will be much less than time spent at an intersection waiting for the police to arrive at your accident.  So please wait your turn, be courteous, and when you proceed do so in a safe manner.

 Another issue that this brings to mind is what witnesses to accidents should do when they see an accident occur.  I am often amazed when accidents occur at busy intersections and there are no witnesses that remained on the scene until the police arrived.  Sometimes these accidents involve injuries and no one has stopped to make sure that no one was hurt.  If you witness an accident please pull over at a safe location, call the police, and check for injuries.  Even if you do not know how to respond to the injuries you can give our dispatchers information about what the injuries look like so they can dispatch the appropriate personnel to the scene.  After this is completed, please remain on the scene so that the police can take a statement from you.  If you are unable to stay, at least give your name and a phone number to the people involved in the accident so you can be contacted by phone at a later time.  The information you could provide is important for police officers to determine how the accident occurred and if a traffic violation caused the accident.  This is usually an impartial view which may be more reliable than the information obtained from the drivers involved in the accident.  So please, stay around and help.

Matt, this was probably more information than you were expecting but thank you for your question!

It seems that whenever I ask my brethren at the police department for ideas for this blog, they always tell me to address what drivers should do when approaching a squad car that has it's emergency lights activated.  This is a big issue for police officers because their safety is on the line if vehicle drivers do not follow a few simple rules.  I have addressed this in previous postings so instead of "reinventing the wheel", I am going to re-publish a previous posting.

Let’s begin with a quiz.

Question #1
I'm driving along and I see a police car pulled over up ahead. The police car's lights are on. What should I do?

A) Speed on by, I don't have to do anything.
B) Stare at the lights becasue they're pretty.
C) Pull over, one lane AWAY from the squad car and proceed slowly by.
D) Slow down significantly and pass with caution.
E) C or D depending on the circumstances.

The correct answer is E. Wisconsin law requires drivers to move over, one lane AWAY from a stopped emergency vehicle (including police, fire, public works and tow trucks) as they proceed by the stopped vehicle. If traffic or road conditions do not allow the driver to move over, the driver is required to SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY as they pass the stopped emergency vehicle.

The penalty for a violation of this statute in Greenfield is $172.00 and 3 points.

Question #2
An emergency vehicle is approaching from behind as you are driving your car. You can see in your rear view mirror that it has it’s emergency lights on and you can hear that the siren is activated. You should:

A) Immediately stop your vehicle in the lane you are traveling in causing a hazard for the emergency vehicle to navigate around.
B) Stay in your lane of travel and significantly decrease your speed causing a moving hazard for the emergency vehicle to navigate around.
C) Suddenly change lanes without signaling to create a hazardous test for all drivers in defensive driving skills.
D) Signal a right lane change and cautiously move to the right and come to a stop in the curb lane allowing the emergency vehicle to safely pass on the left.
E) All of the above.

The correct answer is D. Signal a right lane change and cautiously move to the right and come to a stop in the curb lane allowing the emergency vehicle to safely pass on the left. It seems this would be the obvious answer, however, I have seen all answers occur while operating my emergency squad car with my lights and siren operating. This includes  answer E!

The penalty for a violation of this statute in Greenfield is $235.00 and 4 points.


These are both hefty fines but they can be avoided by knowing what to do when there is an emergency vehicle where you are operating your vehicle. Emergency personnel are pledged to helping keep the community safe but we need your help keeping us safe. Following these two simple statutes would not only be appreciated by emergency personnel but also by the families they go home to.

 

 I got this information from the National Crime Prevention Council and I though it was worth sharing given the number of incidences that occur at gas stations in the Milwaukee area.  Just a couple of simple considerations to help keep you safe.

 

 

Gas Station Theft Prevention

In my 10 years of service as a Police Officer I have heard many citizens question the behavior of police officers.  Examples of this are, "I told the officer I was sorry and offered to shake his hand.  He refused to shake my hand.  How inconsiderate!" or,  "I got out of my car like he asked and it was cold outside.  I put my hands in my pockets and he kept telling me I had to keep my hands out of my pockets.  I think he just wanted me to be cold!"  These and many other actions by the police may seem inconsiderate and impolite on the surface but officers respond in this manner based on their training and experiences as Law Enforcement Officers.

To help the citizens of Greenfield and people who are employed in the city of Greenfield better understand the "how's and why" of law enforcement, the Greenfield Police Department is offering a Citizen's Academy.  This is a 9 week program that will give participants a first hand view of our department.  A wide variety of topics will be discussed, from an introduction to the police department to understanding patrol procedures, state statutes and traffic law, officer survival and use of force, criminal investigation, evidence collection, crime prevention, and police officer requirements to mention a few.

Any adult that is a Greenfield resident or is employed in the city of Greenfield may apply to attend this academy.  Applicants must completely fill out an application which can be obtained from the Law Enforcement Center or downloaded from the police department's web site. ( http://www.greenfieldpolice.org/Community/Citizen_Academy/citizen_academy.html )

The first session is scheduled to begin Tuesday March 11, 2008.  The class will meet Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Greenfield Law Enforcement Center.  Class size will be limited so get your applications in early!  If you have questions regarding this academy contact Captain Schlecht at 761-5300 or stop in at the Law Enforcement Center for brochures and applications.

WHAT A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!!!!

I was just recently made aware of Assembly Bill 624 that is going to be reviewed by state legislators.  This bill is a must for concerned citizens.  The bill intends to provide civil immunity to neighborhood watch members who in good faith, report information to the local law enforcement agency about suspicious activities, persons, or vehicles in their neighborhood. That's what concerned citizens do!!  Concerned citizens report suspicious activity in an attempt to keep their neighborhoods safe!  Immunity from civil liability is a must to safeguard involved and conscientious neighborhood blockwatch members.

 The bill goes on to "require a person who brings an action against the neighborhood watch member for damages related to the report to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the report of information was not made in good faith.  In addition, if the neighborhood watch member is found to have acted in good faith in an action for damages, the court shall award him or her court costs and reasonable attorney fees."  So, if someone wants to bring a suit against a neighborhood watch member who reported an incident, it is their burden to prove the report was not made in good faith and if they can't do this they pay your bill.  As it should be!!

 

In order to get this bill passed the state legislators need to approve it.  So...all the neighborhood watch people reading this blog contact your state legislators and encourage them to pass this bill.  This is a long time in coming and this bill needs to be passed to protect all the concerned and active people involved in neighborhood watch organizations.

It's the time of the year that most people are getting their financial records together for taxes with hopes of getting a refund or at least not paying any additional taxes.  Other people are coming up with scams to grab your refund, swindle you out of your money, and leave you "high and dry" without recourse.  The scam artists are getting more and more creative with their methods and they are cheating more and more people out of their money.  The following is a scam given to me by the very astute Sergeant Young.

Notification of Tax Refund on your VISA or MasterCard Now,



> After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have
determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $241.30.

>A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons.

  Fox example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.


> Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your
patience.

> To access the form for your tax refund please copy/paste  the link
below in your browser (or click the link below)


http://ftp.uhdeings.co.info:84/IRS.gov/Refunds.php  (The hyperlink has been disabled)

> Note: For security reasons, we will record your ip-address, the date
and time.
Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicated.

Regards,

Internal Revenue Service

(c) Copyright 2008, Internal Revenue Service U.S.A.

CFXNVPDSSZPPQWJHEPBBONBTEWYMQKNPPTODCJ

This is a very official looking document which was sent over the internet.  When you click on the link, a screen comes up which looks very official and asks for personal information, but if you try clicking on other topics on this screen it will not go to the next point of interest but stays on the scam page.  Do not fill out and send!!  It is a scam!!! 

This is only one example.  Remember, if you are due money from the government, sweepstakes, lotteries, etc. you will not be notified and asked to give personal information by phone, internet, or mail.  Always contact the appropriate agency prior to pursuing any claim you may be entitled to.  Lastly, you cannot win if you haven't entered so don't believe you have won some sweepstake you have never heard of or entered.

I wrote this article last year but I believe a review of it is helpful every year.

 

Holiday Shopping Tips

By Ofc. Regenfelder

Saturday, Dec 2 2006, 09:20 AM

The holiday season is coming up and the purse snatchers are already hard at work. This is a group of people I would really like to see unemployed! They are ruthless and mean! With your help, we can minimize the damage they do.

If possible ladies, leave your purse at home. If it’s not with you it cannot be taken from you. When you leave the house take what you need with you and put it in your pockets. A driver’s license, credit card, cash, keys and cell phone will fit in pants or jacket pockets.

If you feel the need to carry a purse, minimize the valuables in it. Don’t carry large sums of cash and take only the credit cards you need. When thieves steal purses they are looking for these two items. Cash can be saved and spent at leisure but credit cards get used quickly and for large purchases. This creates a financial nightmare for the victim. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Do not rely on your shoulder strap to keep your purse near you. Use a purse with a short handle and keep your purse in your hand.

Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to who is near you and who is taking a particular interest in you and your purse. If someone is making you uncomfortable and seems too interested in what you are doing, move away from them and keep your purse close. If this persists, tell a security guard or police officer. When driving home, pay attention to vehicles behind you as well as in front of you. There are thieves that will follow a victim home and steal from them when they get into their garage. If you feel you are being followed call the police or drive to your local police station. If you are not sure where that is, drive to a gas station and use a phone there. Gas stations usually have video surveillance and usually have a teller paying attention to the pumps.

If you plan your shopping adventure and only take what you need, you will minimize the chances of becoming a victim of a purse snatching.

We have finally moved!! We are now in our new building! The address remains 5300 W. Layton Ave. and the non-emergency phone number remains 761-5300. When you call that number you will get an automated response. As impersonal as that might be, it will assist you in getting your requests or questions answered in a more expedient manner. It will also direct you to voice mail services if you simply want to leave a message. If you would like to visit our new facility please join us at our Dedication Ceremony on October 13, 2007 with tours from 10am-3pm.

I would like to welcome Ofc. Greg Hoppe to our Community Services Team. Some of you may have already met him at the National Night Out or at Blockwatch meetings.

Speaking of Blockwatch, I will be sending out invitations in October for a Blockwatch Captains meeting to be held in the late October. If there is anything that Blockwatch Captains would especially like addressed at that meeting, please e-mail me.

It’s back to school time. Parents are cheering, kids are griping, and the Greenfield Police are going to help get those kids to school in a safe manner. It’s time to give yourself a little extra time to get to work because of school busses, school crossings, and school zone speed limits.

Remember:

-School zone speed is 15mph
-Pedestrians have the right of way if they are in the crosswalk, especially if being escorted by a crossing guard
-You must stop 20ft from the front and rear of a stopped school bus
displaying its’ flashing red lights and you may not proceed until the
flashing red lights have stopped. If it is a divided highway, vehicles
traveling in the opposite direction of the school bus do not have to stop.

Violations of these laws can not only be costly but can injure or kill. Every year kids are injured or killed by violators of these laws when they are trying to get to or from school. Let’s keep our kids and roads safe by following the laws and being attentive drivers.

Sergeant Young, who is always on the lookout for personal safety tips for the community, sent me this information.

Subject: Fw: PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT


A great idea.


Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise
outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the
panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will
continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come
home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's

a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no
installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your
house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset

it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your
driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to
break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around...
after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to
see who is out there and sure enough the
criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking
to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there.....
This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it
could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic.
Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you
can't reach a phone.

My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case
he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm
and then she'll know there's a problem.

I would like to thank all the people who helped make the 1st Annual Greenfield National Night Out a success. A special thanks to:
Alicia Smokowicz
Holly Szaniawski
Erik Bergman and the Target Volunteers
John Pietrowski
David Carlton
Wisconsin Rentals
Klements Sausage
K-Mart
Pick & Save
Black Bear Soda

The enthusiasm, generosity, and community spirit of these individuals and businesses helped make our first National Night Out a success.

I would again remind anyone interested in starting or participating in a neighborhood watch to contact me at the above e-mail address or calling me at 414-761-5300.