Scammer Pulls Rug From Under Customer

A Westville cop caught a man who swiped a purse out of the back seat of a car involved in a crash. A carpet-cleaning company employee swindled a customer out of an $8,000 rug, while another scammer (“Andrew Williams”) used the internet to bilk a Westville woman out of $500.

Those highlights and lowlights appear in the latest weekly round-up from top West Hills/ Westville/ West Rock/ Amity/ Beverly Hills cop Lt. Rose Dell.

Her summary follows:

FROM 9/8/19 to 9/14/19 POLICE RESPONDED TO 191 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THE WESTVILLE/WEST HILLS SECTION OF NEW HAVEN. THE FOLLOWING ISBRIEF SUMMARY OF NOTABLE INCIDENTS:

On 9/8, a large group of motorcyclists drove recklessly through the City, weaving in and out traffic and driving on the wrong side of the road. Two of the operators were stopped in the 800 block of Whalley Avenue. They were arrested for Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree and various related motor vehicle offenses. The motorcycles were seized and transported to the police garage.

A resident of the 300 block of Fountain Street reported that sometime overnight on 9/10 someone rummaged through her vehicle and stole some loose change. The vehicle appears to have been left unlocked.

A resident of Marvel Road hired a carpet cleaning company to deep clean an area rug. She has used the same company for over two years. An employee arrived to pick up the rug and told her that the company went bankrupt, but he still cleaned rugs as a side business. He asked for cash in advance, but she didn’t have any, so they agreed that payment would be due when the rug was returned. He texted her a few days later to let her know the rug was cleaned. They arranged a time for him to return the rug, but he was a no show and has not answered any text messages or phone calls. The handmade rug is worth around $8,000.

On 8/12, a resident of McKinley Avenue reported that the locking mechanism to his car door had been removed and a GPS, some car chargers and loose change were stolen. The lock appears to have been forced into the car with tools such as a screwdriver and a hammer.
Another Westville resident became a victim of an internet scam. She received a Facebook message from someone she did not know named Andrew Williams.” Williams” asked her to purchase $500 worth of gifts cards, and, when she sent him the card information, he would send her $100,000. She purchased the cards, sent him the information and never heard from him again.

On 9/14, police responded to a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Whalley Avenue and Ramsdell Street. Prior to the Officer’s arrival, the Fire Captain on scene saw an unknown male reach into the back seat of one of the involved vehicles, steal a brown purse and take off on foot. The FD found an empty purse while Officer Annastassia Scott located the perpetrator walking nearby. He was placed under arrest and charged with larceny.

Saturday night police responded to 122 Wilmot Road on a criminal mischief complaint. A group of five young males pushed over the bus stop canopy. They then entered the store and emptied the contents of a fire extinguisher. The males took off on foot towards Wayfarer Street.

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