Electronic Fraud
I would like to bring an issue to everyone’s attention.  I continue to notice, weekly, a significant number of reports that we take regarding identity theft and credit card fraud.  These reports are taken all over the City; there is no area more common to have a victim of this type of crime than any other area.
           This isn’t a crime of violence.  This is a crime that most of your neighbors will never know happened.  This is a crime that can disrupt your life for many months, or even longer.
 
           The common use of electronic means to make financial transactions has led to a huge increase in fraud.  Victims sometimes go for months before they realize that they are, indeed, victims.  The first indication may be a telephone call from a financial institution inquiring about the thousands of dollars now owed.
 
           I would encourage everyone to check any accounts you have frequently, and be very careful when making any electronic transactions.  This type of fraud comes in many forms, from unauthorized withdrawals to purchases made over the internet, but the items are never received.  The suspects can, literally, be anywhere in the world, and rather than use their inventive know-how for a good purpose, they use it to steal.
 
           If you suspect that you are the victim of this type of crime, do not hesitate to contact your financial institution.  If you do discover that you have unauthorized transactions, notify your financial institution, or the store which holds your account immediately, and contact the Police Department.  
 
Media Partnerships            
 
Everyone has probably also noticed an increase in the number of criminal suspects which are publicized by the Media.  We want to turn “Wanted by Hoover PD” into “Arrested by Hoover PD”.  We have sent surveillance photographs obtained in several recent cases to the Media, who have been generous enough to place these on their websites, in newspapers, and in television broadcasts.
 
The cases are often thefts, and sometimes specifically target the elderly as victims.
 
           Typically, we receive many tips from the public after photos are released.  The tips have allowed our Detectives to obtain several felony warrants.  In each of these cases, the Media has been a very useful partner in developing information which has led to arrests.  
 
           The news releases we send to the Media are also posted on our website, www.hooverpd.com under the “News Release” category.
 
           Partnerships with the Police Department are one key component to keeping our crime rate down.  The Media is one example; good neighbors are another.  
 
 
 
Captain Jim Coker,
 
Hoover Police