If issues sound suspicious, they are likely fraudulent

We have had quite a few fraud issues this past couple of weeks and my brothers in blue would like me to remind you to be wary of anything that just doesn't "sound right."

If you are at work and the attorney general's office calls you with a super-secret investigation that you can't tell anyone about — it's suspicious. If they tell you to gather all the money from the till and take it out to meet an agent in the dark parking area next door — it's suspicious. If you get a call from the IRS about unpaid taxes that you are required to satisfy by going to a local store and purchasing a gift-card — it's suspicious. If you get a call from your "grandchild" asking for bail money to be sent by Western Union because they are out of the country — it's suspicious.

All of these situations have happened in the past few weeks and the bad guys have walked away with quite a bit of hard-earned money. The reason these scams still exist is they work.

The IRS will never call you for money. The attorney general's office will have record of any agents working in the field on investigations. Your grandchild should be able to tell you something very personal and out of the normal to confirm identity, such as where they were born or their parent's birthdays. If the call passes all these tests, get a callback number and give us a call. Our staff should be able to determine if the call is legitimate. Most times they will disconnect and move on to someone less cautious.

Jan 14. Assist: Parent needs assistance after a juvenile destroys property instead of doing homework at 7:36 a.m. in the 600 block of Granada Drive.

Suspicious: A man in a red Nissan truck tries to sell frozen meat from a cooler in the back of his truck but speeds away when the resident asks for his soliciting permit at 11:29 a.m. in the area of Buchanan and Adams boulevards.

Thought for the day: Good catch on the sales pitch. All people selling items in town must have a solicitors permit or business license.

Jan. 15. Fraud: A person comes into the lobby to report that his identity was stolen and used to get online loans at 11:12 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Suspicious: Officers receive a report of a subject walking down the road with a bullwhip and snapping in front of him as he walks at 8:07 p.m. in the area of Avenue B and Sixth Street.

Thought for the day: The whip was ditched in the bushes and the walker seems to have no idea who would have thought it was his.

Jan. 16. Suspicious vehicle: Officers receive a report about a vehicle in the area that is loud and causing a lot of disturbance at 1:35 a.m. in the 1700 block of Red Mountain Drive.

Traffic hazard: The caller heard a loud noise earlier and now has gone outside to leave for work and there are car parts in the roadway at 7:45 a.m. in the 100 block of Wyoming Street.

Thought for the day: I hate it when those pesky car parts just fall off while I'm driving.

Jan. 17. Vehicle collision: An officer attempts to stop a suspected drunk driver, who fails to yield and hits a light pole, a wall and rolls the vehicle ending with only minor injuries and a DUI at 12:19 a.m. in the area of La Mesa Way and El Camino Drive.

Suspicious: A person calls to report a domestic disturbance in a tent near Auto Zone at 4:12 a.m. in the 700 block of Canyon Road.

Thought for the day: A real happy week for us would be one driving drunk.

Jan. 18. Animal: A few chickens make a break for it but are quickly rounded up and locked back in their coop at 5:14 p.m. in the 400 block of Utah Street.

Fraud: A person is in the lobby to report canceling an electronics order from a computer store that appears to have been ordered using his account number at 7:23 p.m. in the 1300 block of Esther Drive.

Thought for the day: There is a pretty good chance that most families will be involved in some type of fraudulent activity so stay alert.

Jan. 19. Fight: Officers receive a report of two subjects engaged in mutual combat after a night on the town at 12:21 a.m. in the 500 block of Avenue B.

Shots: There are numerous calls regarding a man shooting in the air and acting aggressively in a multifamily complex at 4:24 p.m. in the 1300 block of Darlene Way.

Thought for the day: It is helpful for callers to have descriptive information about the subjects involved and the direction of travel during a critical incident if at all possible. Thank you all for remaining calm and assisting us in ending a dangerous situation with no injuries. Callers should never put themselves at risk and always keep their personal safety as top priority when assisting the police. We don't want you to be a victim, too.

Jan. 20. Suspicious: Officers receive a report of vehicle with all of its doors open and a man dancing in the street at 7:12 a.m. in the area of Utah Street and Avenue K.

Vehicle collision: One vehicle is smoking after hitting a pole near the entrance to the building at 11:43 a.m. in the area of Nevada Way and Wyoming Street.

Thought for the day: The dancing subject was directed back into his house and told not to dance in the street and not to drive right now.

Call(s) of the week: 911: The caller curses out dispatchers when she runs out of gas and no one will give her money, including other law enforcement agencies. She continues her tirade with our officers and follows up with an anxiety attack and manages to get herself arrested, her dog impounded and her vehicle towed at 1:37 p.m. in the area of Ville Drive and U.S. Highway 93.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen's Academy.