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Police Bulletin

Scams net more than $7,500 from two victims

Two residents were victims of the same scam on Dec. 5, losing a total of $7,540, according to police reports.

The scam, in which a person claims to be the victim's grandson, in trouble and outside the U.S., has been growing in popularity with thieves.

One victim, a resident of the 4300 block of Valley Avenue, reported sending a total of $2,740 in two wire transfers. That report came in at 9:50 a.m.

Later that day, another victim called from Western Union in the 6700 block of Bernal Avenue. That victim sent a total of $4,800 in two transactions.

In both cases, the scammer claimed to be calling from the Philippines.

In other police reports:

* Two residents reported that their identities had been stolen and accounts had been opened in their name without their knowledge.

In one, reported at about 7:15 a.m. Dec. 11 from a resident of the 6000 block of Allbrook Circle, $2,800 was reported stolen.

An account was opened but nothing had been stolen in the other, reported at 9:28 p.m. by a resident of the 5000 block of Rigatti Circle.

* A Dec. 5 traffic stop in the 460 block of Denker Drive led to the arrest of Carl Smith, 45, of Sherman Oaks on felony warrants from Sacramento. Smith was wanted on charges of grand theft, perjury and felony welfare fraud. He was arrested at about 7:28 p.m.

* Three laptops worth $700 apiece were stolen from Safeway's corporate offices in the 5900 block of Stoneridge Mall Road on Dec. 6.

* An auto burglary in the 4600 block of Ithica Way netted more than $2,500 in miscellaneous items, including a $500 gold necklace, a $350 bracelet and a $250 ring. The items were stolen from an unlocked vehicle between Nov. 13 and Now. 21, but not reported until Dec. 11.

Under the law, those arrested are considered innocent until convicted.