Stranger Asking for Help

Published on Jan 10, 2012 | Neighborhood Watch

Greetings Net,

The following information is provided by the Rockledge Police Department for your information – please pass it along. While this scenario seems to have only been played out in one community (so far), it has great potential to spread out into other neighborhoods. Should you find yourself witnessing this same scenario, please contact local law enforcement immediately, even if you are calling based on your gut feel:

Rockledge Police Department:

690-3988 (non- emergency)

911 (emergency)

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There have been three incidents on three separate dates where an individual (a stranger) has knocked on doors at Buckingham Court. The individual states that he is the step-son of a neighbor, providing a name and an address of a neighbor in the community. He then asks for money, explaining that his vehicle has broken down or that he needs cab fare, stating that he will return with the borrowed money later.

Investigation has revealed that he is not related to any of the individuals he claims to be related to.

Description of the individual:

– Black male

– Age: 55-65

– Height: approximately 6′ 2″ to 6 5″

– Gap in his front teeth, short cut salt and pepper hair

– Has worn a baseball cap during past scenarios

– On the last incident, the individual was seen leaving the neighborhood in a gray mini-van and on a previous occasion witnesses believe he left in a white truck, possibly with a Black female driver

While there seems to be no other reported incidents in Rockledge outside of Buckingham Court involving this individual (to date), Titusville Police Department had a similar situation recently which became

somewhat widespread. The incidents in Rockledge occurred on 21 DEC 2011 and 02 and 06 JAN 2012.

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Please be vigilant, be involved and be safe, and report the suspicious acts of others to local law enforcement timely,

Network Administrator

Rockledge Home Invasion

Published on Dec 28, 2011 | Neighborhood Watch

The following information has been provided by the Rockledge Police Department for your information.  Details of this crime have also been released to local media for publication.  It is another reminder as to how essential it is that neighbors work together to harden their community against criminal activity and that each of us take the necessary precautions to safeguard our homes (everyday).

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A home invasion in Rockledge just occurred at Woodhaven Apartment.  In this situation, the victim knew the individual who assaulted him.  The victim was in his home with the door locked when he heard someone at his door state that they were the police (the individual at the door was not a law enforcement officer).  The victim opened the door, but kept it on the security chain.

The individual outside the door knocked open the door and entered the apartment.  He battered the victim and, while in the apartment, he kept the victim from calling for help via his phone.  Neighbors were not aware of the home invasion until after the fact.

The Rockledge Police Department responded immediately when notified, but the individual had fled.  With the details provided, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office quickly obtain a warrant for the individual in Cape Canaveral.  He has since been arrested and is currently in custody at Sharpes.

Among the many offenses he committed, he is charged with home invasion, burglary, theft, and for preventing an individual from calling for assistance.

Additional information may be provided by local media.

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Please always make the effort to positively identify any individual at your door before opening it.  A “peep hole” installed in any door that does not have adjacent windows is an ideal safety measure to safeguard you and your home.  And when opening a door to a stranger, before doing so, ask them to step back away from the door to create a comfortable buffer between you and them, allowing you time to shut the door quickly should it be warranted.

Please be vigilant, be involved and be safe,

Elderly Fraud

Published on Dec 27, 2011 | Neighborhood Watch

Greetings Net,

I hope that this e-mail finds you well, wrapping up 2011 with treasured memories of times shared with family and friends, Unfortunately, I know that there are some Rockledge neighbors that are not so fortunate; which leads me to the purpose of this alert. The following is provided (n part) by the Rockledge Police Department, disseminating another “scam” alert – this one via telephone. The victim is a senior citizen who is over 90 years of age; taken advantage of by the criminal element because she let her guard down and displayed trust and kindness.

If you or someone you know have received calls similar to the scenario provided below, contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. Because this type of scam has no boundaries for where it can be played out, please consider passing this on to others you know outside of Rockledge – I suspect we are not the only city considered as a target of opportunity.

The information and scenario provided by the Rockledge Police Department (below) has been modified as not to disclose the personal information of the victim and other sensitive information.

Please be vigilant, be involved and be safe, and report the suspicious activity of others.

Network Administrator

———- Forwarded message (modified and provided by the net in part) ———-

Date: Sun, Dec 25, 2011 at 7:27 PM

Subject: ELDERLY FRAUD

On 23 December 2011, at approximately 11:29 am, Rockledge Police Department received a phone call from the daughter of a resident concerning her mother, who is over 90 years old. The daughter found out that her mother had sent about $500 to an unknown man which she had met via a phone call. The daughter advised that she was concerned as the unknown man had talked her mother into adding his name as an authorized account user/holder. The daughter further stated that all telephone calls from this individual were from a blocked or restricted telephone number.

A Rockledge Police Department LEO (law enforcement officer) responded to the mother’s house, prompted by the daughter’s call. The mother revealed to the LEO that she received a phone call from a man introducing himself as Ronald; she did not know him. He called a number of times over a period of three to four weeks. Over that period of time he had asked her small bits of information. He learned that she lived alone in a condominium and that she has a dog. She said the man had the sweetest voice and that they talked about a number of things, much of which she could not remember.

About a week ago he called and asked that she return $500 which he had deposited into her bank account. She agreed to do that and added the name “Tommy Grubbs” to the account at the man’s request. She said that the man arranged for a taxi cab go to her condo to pick her up and take her to a local bank in Cocoa, Florida. At the bank she withdrew $500 in cash, but kept $20 as she had to pay for the taxi out of her own funds. She then mailed the cash to “Ronald Mize” in Indiana; a mailing address was provided. The man later called to confirm whether or not she had sent the money – she did. He has not called her since.

She presented the LEO a new credit card, which she had recently received, but had not ordered. Besides her name, an individual by name of “Levon Johnson” was on it, with a newly increased credit limit of $13,000.

The LEO has since assisted her with preventing blocked telephone numbers from being able to call her, ensured all unwanted persons were removed from accessing her bank accounts, and verified with the bank that the new credit card was cancelled. The bank, which is a nationwide bank, was unable to access and/or locate any record of “Tommy Grubbs”, “Levon Johnson” or “Ronald Mize” being associated with the victim’s account.

The requisite Indiana law enforcement agency and Rockledge Police Department are coordinating their efforts to investigate this criminal act against an elderly person.

Gameover Task Force

Published on Dec 27, 2011 | Neighborhood Watch

Greetings Net,

Thanks to the combined efforts of local law enforcement agency representatives, supporting an ongoing operation called GAMEOVER Task Force, more criminals have been brought to justice; this time some heavy hitters. The following provides the recent success of this elite task force. The text has been slightly altered to remove specific sensitive information.

Please be vigilant, be involved and be safe – together we do make a difference.

Network Administrator

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Date: December 23, 2011 11:25:55 AM EST

Subj: Arrest of carjacking suspects

“There is no doubt more innocent people would have been victimized, and possibly even killed if these individuals were able to remain at large. Great, great work…as we have come to expect by this exceptional group of law enforcement officers and their respective agencies.”

On 21 December 2011, the GAMEOVER Task Force was requested to assist in locating two brothers thought to be responsible for a series of armed carjackings and armed robberies that had been committed throughout Brevard County over the past several weeks. Yesterday, task force agents were able to develop information that lead them to an apartment complex in Palm Bay where both brothers, Asage and Ashad Strozier, were taken into custody without incident after a brief stand-off.

Once the suspects were secure, it was determined that a vehicle that had been carjacked from the Merritt Square Mall on 27 November was at the apartment. A second vehicle parked in the vicinity of the apartment was determined to have been taken during a carjacking earlier the same day from Orlando (this is the vehicle that both brothers were traveling in when surveillance made contact).

A third suspect, Torie Lewis, was also taken into custody. Lewis was found to be an absconder from community control and had three active felony warrants.

All three suspects were transported to the Palm Bay Police Department where agents from East and West Precincts responded to conduct interviews along with detectives from Titusville, Melbourne and Orlando Police departments. As a result of the agents’ collaborative effort, confessions were obtained from Asage Strozier and Torie Lewis regarding their involvement in the numerous robberies and carjackings throughout Brevard and Orange counties. There will be charges on each by the respective investigating agencies.

A search warrant was executed at the apartment where the suspects were taken into custody. As a result of the search warrant, items belonging to some of the victims were located. Although there is still much left to finalize this investigation, it has been a great example of the communication and teamwork throughout the organization as well as the partnership with other agencies within the county. Without it, these individuals would still be free today terrorizing the citizens of Brevard County.

In addition to the above-described incident, the GAMEOVER Task Force also located and arrested Raymond Robles for sexual battery (victim under 12 years of age) and lewd and lascivious molestation yesterday.