Lakewood Civic

Officer Steward Beasley wanted to share some info with our neighborhood:

“We have been finding card readers or skimmers in town for several years. If you are not familiar with skimmers, they are simply a device that has the ability to read and store your credit/debit card information. Your card information can then be pulled from the skimmer and loaded onto a blank card such as a gift card, essentially cloning your card.

As I mentioned, we have been finding these for a number of years. However, the frequency in which we are finding them is increasing. Moreover, the technology is becoming better and the ability to detect them is becoming more difficult.

The pictures below are of a skimmer that was located at an ATM at one of the banks in Baytown. Because this is an ongoing investigation I am not authorized to give specifics of the case. My intent is to show that this is a real threat and it is here in town.

We have also recovered skimmers from inside stores. In the pictures below, the faceplate is fake but professionally fabricated to look identical to the original.

Make a habit of inspecting the card reader before you insert your card. If anything looks suspicious notify an employee or call the police. Reconcile your accounts daily if you are a person who uses your card frequently and look for charges that are not yours. Remember your card will still work, if it has been cloned.

If you want to learn more about these and other trending crimes as well as how we catch these criminals you should sign up for the Baytown Citizens Police Academy. The first class starts Tuesday, January 31. Contact Officer Beasley if you are interested in joining the upcoming class.

If you guys could get this passed on to your folks I would appreciate it. Let me know if you have any questions.”

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

Hey everyone.  We have seen a few cases of cars being burglarized where the method of entry was a universal remote key. It appears the suspect has a key fob that he is able to program for any vehicle that he wishes. Most cases, it appears he is targeting vehicles which may have firearms inside as that is all that was taken. Many of the victim’s vehicles had a “thin blue line” sticker or some sort of tactical sticker on them. This is not specific to Baytown. Cases are being seen throughout the Houston area.

Please don’t leave weapons in your vehicle. If you are a weapon carrier, don’t advertise such via stickers on your car. This doesn’t make you tough or feared, it makes you a target.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

This case actually happened just outside the city limits in Harris County and the police were not notified. We only found out through a family member.

Please pass this along to your neighborhood watch groups and let them know there is a con man in the area.

Male subject in a blue truck approaching elderly residents outside their home and striking up a conversation about how he did roof work for them 3-4 years ago when no such work was ever done. Male builds a rapport with elderly victim and offers to do “more work” for victim, quoting a very low price for something that would normally cost much more. (Example: $48 to black top driveway) if elderly victim agrees to the deal, male does shoddy; bogus work in about an hour or less and tells victim the price is now $500. If victim refuses to pay he threatens to call police on them.

If anyone has had this type of encounter or should anyone be solicited for something like this, please contact the police.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

One of our Baytown PD detectives asked me to pass this along to all my neighborhood watch groups in hopes of keeping anyone from becoming a victim of this scam.

The detective is working a case along with a Secret Service Agent from the Dallas area. The Secret Service Agent advised they are beginning to see an upswing in “auto-dialer scams” in Texas with very heavy activity in the Dallas area.

What is an auto-dialer scam? I will explain. Your phone rings, when you answer it is an automated phone/computer system talking to you rather than a real person. The call will ask you to verify your banking or credit card information. Some of these calls are very clever and tricky.

The rule to remember is IF YOU DO NOT INITIATE THE PHONE CALL AS TO BE 100% CERTAIN WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO, DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION. Simply hang up the phone and call your bank or credit card company to verify they were trying to reach you.

These scams are becoming more elaborate and the crooks are good at what they do. However, you are in control of you info. Don’t be fooled in giving it out over the phone.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Thanks,

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department