Pennington resident falls victim to phony United Health Care call
On November 1, 2023, a Woolsey Court resident called the Pennington Police Department (PPD) to report that she was the victim of a phone scam. The victim stated, to investigating officer P.O. Friedman, that she received a call from an unknown person claiming that they worked for United Health Care. The victim supplied the caller with personal information before realizing that the call was probably fictitious. The victim was told to contact all of her credit agencies and monitor her financial belongings.
Straube Center company scammed by deceptive electrician
On November 7, 2023, Officer Caruso was dispatched to a business located at the Straube Center in response to a reported theft. Upon arrival, Officer Caruso spoke to one of the employees who stated that the company hired a nearby electrician to fix a light. The victim paid the contractor $180 for the repair with the understanding that the contractor would return with the parts to fix the light. After a week and several attempts to contact the electrician rendered no success, an attempt to contact the electrician by P.O. Caruso also rendered no success. Further investigation found the contractor to not be legitimate and the phone number that was given to the victim was disconnected. The investigating officer is P.O. D’Ascoli.
East Welling resident target with fraudulent Verizon bill
On November 18, 2023, SFC Thomas was dispatched to the Pennington Police Department to speak with an East Welling resident about a possible scam. The victim explained to SFC Thomas that she had received a bill from Verizon stating that she owed a certain amount of money. The victim explained to SFC Thomas that she did not have a Verizon account and, in fact, had an account under her mother’s name. There was no personal information given and no money was exchanged. This case is still being investigated.
Horse saddle scam strikes Facebook Marketplace target
On December 7, 2023, a Baldwin Court resident came into police headquarters to report that she had been the victim of an internet scam. The victim stated that she believed she had sold a horse saddle to a person who viewed and agreed to a price on Facebook Marketplace. The victim realized that this was a scam after several transactions back and forth with the potential buyer. This case is still under investigation.
Purse stolen from parked car at Kunkel Park
On December 13, 2023, Officer Caruso was dispatched to police headquarters for the report of a theft from a motor vehicle. Upon his arrival, he spoke to the victim who stated that while she was at Kunkel Park with her daughter her unlocked vehicle was entered and her purse was taken. The purse was described as a “brown checked Louis Vuitton” with miscellaneous items inside of it. This case is still under investigation.
Fighting in Pennington streets leads to assault arrest
On December 28, 2023, Officer Caruso was dispatched to the area of South Main Street and Delaware for the report of an altercation. Officer Caruso arrived to find two male subjects actively fighting in the road. One male was arrested for simple assault and the other male was released to a family member. This investigation is still ongoing.
This information has been provided by the Pennington Police Department.
