Kenilworth Police Department
***Crime Alert and Police Blotter***

Sent: February 22, 2016

 
PLEASE NOTE:  YOU SHOULD RECEIVE TWO SEPARATE EMAILS REGARDING THIS ALERT.  ONE WILL BE FROM OUR OLD SYSTEM’S EMAIL ADDRESS OF KENILWORTHPD@KENILWORTHPD.ORG AND THE OTHER EMAIL WILL BE FROM OUR NEW SYSTEM OF LISTSERV@CIVICPLUS.COM.  WE WILL NO LONGER BE SENDING ALERTS FROM THE OLD SYSTEM AFTER THIS EMAIL.  IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE ALERT FROM THE NEW SYSTEM, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY SPAM FILTERS YOU HAVE ARE SET TO ALLOW EMAILS FROM LISTSERV@CIVICPLUS.COM.  PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS.

Fraudulent Telephone Scams 
The Kenilworth Police Department is advising residents to be cautious of fraudulent telephone calls.  In the last few days a resident was victimized as a result of a fraudulent telephone scheme.  An offender called representing themselves as a family member of the victim and reported being in need of emergency assistance.  The victim wired money but subsequently learned the caller was not the person who they represented themselves to be.  The elderly are often targeted as victims of this scam which is referred to on Western Union’s website as the “Grandparents Scam” https://thewesternunion.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/42 .

While the details of these types of scam may vary, this latest financial scam involves persons pretending to be a family member or friend who has been in a traffic accident, arrested or needing emergency medical assistance.  The caller uses fear, sympathy and a personal attachment to lure the unsuspecting victim into wiring money to help their friend or family member.  The caller will relate that the situation is an emergency requiring the victim to quickly send thousands of dollars to help them get out of trouble.  If the victim does send the money, they often will receive a second call requesting more money with another convincing excuse.
Investigations into these types of frauds typically cross international borders, making prosecution unlikely and the recovery of any lost funds nearly impossible.  Many people may not be aware of the fact that a wire transfer may be picked at a different location than the sender writes on the receipt.  Persons receiving requests to wire funds should not immediately wire money, but instead request a call-back number and then check on the family member or friend’s welfare and location.  Residents may contact the police to help verify the facts before sending the money.  Any other persons receiving these calls are asked to contact the police.Police Blotter – Recap of Incidents for January 2016
The monthly police blotter is a sampling of the types of incidents handled by the police department during the previous month. In January the Kenilworth Police Department handled 568 incidents, including 5 crime reports. The incidents and crimes reported include the following:
 
CRIME REPORTS

Amount      Type

03 Deceptive practices

01 Disorderly conduct

01 Driving under the influence of alcohol

 
SERVICE REQUESTS/INCIDENTS/OTHER ACTIVITIES

Amount       Type

04 Animal complaints (including pets & wildlife)

14 Burglar alarm activations

05 Child safety seat installations

07 Crime prevention courtesy cards issued

05 Construction site complaints

02 Domestic troubles

07 Firearms range used by residents

12 Fire & ambulance calls

02 Lock-out of auto

04 Lock-out of home

04 Noise Complaint

11 Open/unsecured doors investigated during premise checks

13 Outside police agency assists

234 Parking permission requests received

154 Parking violations cited

09 Parking complaints

10 Pharmaceutical drop-offs

04 Property found and brought to the police station

01 Property reported lost

26 Reports to other Village departments (road conditions, lights, signs, etc.)

01 Solicitor complaints

98 Special attention checks

08 Suspicious persons/incidents investigated

03 Traffic crashes investigated

54 Traffic citations issued

170 Vacation house watch checks

Kenilworth Police Department
419 Richmond Road
Kenilworth, IL 60043
(847) 251-2141