Vehicle Stolen, Police Investigate Scams In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Newtown Township Police Department reported the following incidents and arrests between August 9 and August 15:

August 9

• A Newtown Township resident contacted police at 12:30 p.m. to report fraud. The resident was selling furniture on Facebook Market Place and received a fraudulent offer. The scammer mailed a forged check in an amount over the selling price and asked the resident to send them back the difference. The resident took the check to the bank, where they notified him that it was fraudulent. Fortunately, the resident did not suffer a monetary loss.

August 11

• At approximately 4:30 p.m. police conducted a traffic stop on the driver of a Toyota sedan for committing a vehicle code violation in the area of Durham Road and Municipal Drive. Upon speaking with the driver, the officer detected the odor of alcohol. As a result of the investigation, the operator was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

August 13

• Police contacted a Newtown Township resident at 3:45 p.m. in reference to a scam. The resident explained that he received a phone call from an unknown number with a voicemail instructing him to call back. When the resident called, he was greeted by someone claiming to be a sheriff with a warrant for his arrest for missing jury duty. He was instructed to pay $3,500 to get rid of the warrant. The scammer texted him “a warrant from the U.S. District Court” to confirm the claim. The resident used an app to forward money to the unknown Sheriff’s Department before realizing that it was a scam.

August 15

• A Newtown Township resident contacted police around 6:45 a.m. to report a motor vehicle theft. The investigation is ongoing.