Threatening Texts And ID Theft Top Redding Police Blotter For Aug. 1-7

REDDING, CT — A pricey Craig's List scam and threatening text messages from a foreign country were at the top of the Redding Police Department's blotter this past week.

Investigators are still looking into vandalism suffered by some of the planks on the foot bridge on the Saugatuck Trail along Redding Road. The damage was reported Aug. 1.

Identity theft remains a problem for town residents, based on the number of complaints received by the police. On Aug. 1, a Drummer Lane resident told police someone had stolen their ID and attempted to open a debit card in the complainant's company's name. The investigation remains open.

The Redding police received another complaint on Aug. 4 from someone who said they had been scammed out of $1o,000. The victim had found a house for rent in Redding on Craig's List. After making an inquiry and receiving a reply from a "Randy," the victim set up a meeting at the property and wired the scammer the money. "Randy" never showed. The investigation showed the property was not owned by anyone named "Randy," and remains open.

On Aug. 4, a resident reported losing a cell phone while on vacation in another country and is now receiving threatening text messages from the old phone on the new phone. The Redding PD advised the victim to contact the cell phone provider.

No injuries were reported following an accident on Umpawaug Road on Aug. 2. Both vehicles were traveling northbound when one stopped in the roadway attempting to make a left turn, according to police. As the second vehicle was passing by on the right, the first "decided not to make the turn, then drove into the driver's side" of the passing vehicle.

A driver lost control of their vehicle traveling northbound on Poverty Hollow Road on Aug. 4, before striking a rock off in the northbound lane. Police report that no one was hurt.