Police briefs - Aug. 28

August 28, 2012

Burglaries, vandalism, thefts reported in Washington County

The following incidents were reported by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office between 8 a.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Tuesday:

A burglary was reported in the 17700 block of Broadfording Road near Hagerstown.
A burglary was reported in the 16700 block of Edward Doub Road in Williamsport.
A burglary was reported on North Conococheague Street in Williamsport.
A burglary was reported in the unit block of Cumberland Street in Clear Spring.
Vandalism was reported in the 11800 block of Linbar Road near Hagerstown.
Vandalism was reported in the 19900 block of Beaver Creek Road near Hagerstown.
A theft was reported in the 17600 block of Virginia Avenue in Halfway.
A theft was reported on Westfield Drive in Maugansville.
A theft was reported in the 11500 block of Robinwood Drive near Hagerstown.
A theft was reported in the 12600 block of Trinity Church Drive in Clear Spring.
A theft was reported on Resley Road in Hancock.
A theft from a vehicle was reported in the 1100 block of Lawton lane near Hagerstown.

Police warn residents about phone scams

The Hagerstown Police Department wants residents to be aware of a variety of telephone scams, including one that was attempted on a city woman Monday morning.

Suzanne Jones said she was visiting her mother’s home on King Street when a man with a foreign accent called, asking them to buy a $275 MoneyPak at Walmart. The man said he would meet them later in the parking lot to exchange the money for a $1.2 million Publishers Clearing House check.

“He said it wasn’t a scam, but I know it was,” Jones said. “He said it was tax-free.”

Jones said she called the Hagerstown Police Department to report the call, and an officer told her that police would meet her at Walmart to make an arrest. She said she couldn’t go through with the plan because she already made plans to do something else.

Police Chief Arthur Smith said there are many scams that people commit over the telephone and Internet. He said con artists typically prey on “the elderly,” who tend to be trusting.

“This is a very common type of thing ... if they’re offering you something for nothing, it’s going to be a scam,” Smith said.

The man who called Jones’ mother probably wasn’t calling from Hagerstown, Smith said.

He said he twice called the number that appeared on Jones’ mother’s caller identification, but no one answered the phone.

— Dan Dearth

Money box stolen from Bitner's produce on Virginia Avenue

A money box containing a small amount of money was stolen Monday afternoon from Bitner’s produce at the Old Orchard Shopping Center on Virginia Avenue in Hagerstown, police said.

Two men approached the produce stand at about 2:33 p.m., said Lt. Tim Baker of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the men grabbed the money box, and both fled in a white pickup truck with wide, turquoise-colored stripes and West Virginia tags, Baker said.

Anyone with information about crimes handled by the sheriff’s office may call 240-313-2172.

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