MEXICO — The Police Department responded to 158 calls for service from April 13 to 29, including three reports of frauds or scams, Chief Roy Hodsdon said.
“One on Middle Avenue and another on Kimball Avenue were callers saying they were from the Internal Revenue Service and telling residents that they would be arrested for nonpayment of taxes unless they sent money to the caller,” he said. “We checked on it and the number used wasn’t the IRS. If you owe the IRS money, they will probably come to your house. Do not give out your personal information,” he advised.
According to the IRS website at www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts, the IRS says it will never:
* Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed a bill.
* Demand taxes be paid without giving an opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.
* Require a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card.
* Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
* Threaten arrest.
Hodsdon said the third scam was tried on a Poplar Hill Road resident, who was told she had won a lot of money in a lottery and had to send money to get the winnings.
“That’s been around for forever, but it is important for our citizens to know what’s going on,” he said.
Among other calls were:
* At 9:49 a.m. April 28, an Oxford Avenue man reported that while he was walking on Main Street, he was approached by two young men who stole his medications and MP3 player. Hodsdon said it was an altercation, but not an armed robbery. “We have no leads on it,” he said. “He didn’t recognize them and believed them to be from out of the area.”
* At 5:29 a.m. April 25, a Swift River Road resident reported that two men entered the residence and assaulted the homeowner and stole two items valued at a couple hundred dollars. The resident said the pair were at the residence earlier and had been asked to leave.
Mexico officers assisted by Rumford police checked the area but were unable to find the men. Meanwhile, one of the two stolen items has been recovered, Hodsdon said, declining to identify what they are. “This case is still being investigated because we want to speak to the suspects to get their side of the matter,” he said. “Charges are pending once they are found.”
* At 8:40 a.m. April 23, a Parker Street resident reported someone was using her credit card and bank cards without her permission. “We have suspects and this is still under investigation,” Hodsdon said.
* At 1:15 p.m. April 19, a Middle Avenue resident reported someone forcibly entered their home and stole an unknown amount of jewelry and caused extensive damage to a door.
* At 6:51 p.m. April 18, a Kimball Avenue resident reported that sometime over the winter someone stole the battery out of a child’s large Hot Wheels vehicle and damaged the vehicle.
* At 1:25 p.m. April 18, a Canton Point Road resident of Dixfield reported from the Mexico Wal-Mart parking lot that someone stole the large bag of recyclable bottles from his truck.
* At 1:39 a.m. April 18, Katie Lamare, 22, of Hebron Road in Turner was arrested on charge of drunken driving on Worthley Avenue. She was released on bail and will be arraigned on July 7 in 11th District Court.
* At 12:05 p.m. April 15, a Sun Valley Circle resident reported that someone extensively keyed their vehicle.
* At 9 a.m. April 15, a Middle Avenue resident reported someone entered their garage and stole two contractor’s tools worth an estimated $375. Police have suspects.
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