To avoid fraud, Manassas Police Dept. says try to deal with local sellers when buying pricey items

Manassas City Police Department
Crime Report
November 28, 2017

Fraud
On November 27, 2017 at approximately 9:59 p.m., the Manassas Police Department responded to 9200 Centerville Rd (CVS Pharmacy) for a report of a fraud. Upon arrival, officers met with the victim who stated that he is in the process of purchasing a vehicle through eBay and had been corresponding with the seller via email. The victim sent eBay gift cards through email to the seller, but never received the vehicle.
         
Crime Prevention Tips:
·      When buying a car or other high-priced item try to deal with local sellers.

·      Avoid purchasing cars when you are unable to see the vehicle in person.

·      Don’t trust a seller that says the transaction is guaranteed by a website such as eBay, Craigslist, and PayPal. These sites do not offer guarantees in all situations.

·      If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Burglary
On November 27, 2017 at approximately 5:06 a.m., the Manassas Police Department responded to the 9600 block Mercedes Dr for a report of a Burglary. The victim stated that between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. someone entered the residence, possibly through an unsecured door, and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

Larceny from Motor Vehicle
On November 27, 2017 at approximately 9:14 a.m., the Manassas Police Department responded to the 9000 block of Sandalwood Dr for a report of a larceny from a motor vehicle. During the course of investigation, it was determined a window was shattered on the vehicle and a pair of shoes was reported stolen. The incident is believed to have occurred between 9:00 p.m. on November 26 and 9:00 a.m. on November 27.

Larceny from Motor Vehicle
On November 26, 2017 at approximately 7:52 p.m., the Manassas Police Department responded to the 8300 block of Georgian Ct for a report of a larceny from a motor vehicle. The investigation revealed that the vehicle’s doors were unlocked and a backpack was taken from the vehicle. The incident occurred sometime between 11:00 pm on November 25 and the afternoon of November 26.

Crime Prevention Tip:  Larcenies from vehicle, theft of motor vehicle parts, and vandalisms to auto are the most commonly reported property offenses in the City of Manassas. Valuables left in plain sight inside a vehicle offer a tempting reward for criminals, especially if gaining access could be as simple as opening an unlocked door. To avoid becoming a victim of larceny, residents are strongly urged to consider the following tips:

• Lock all vehicle doors and windows. (It doesn’t hurt to double-check. Many victims thought they had left their vehicles locked before the theft took place. “Before you sleep, make sure it beeped!”)

• Park your vehicle in a well-lit and/or in a populous location

• Conceal all valuables before arriving at your destination. Never underestimate the value of something to someone else. Even spare change can entice a thief to break in and steal other items once inside.
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Report all suspicious activity by calling 703-257-8000. It never hurts to have a pen and paper ready by the phone in the event you are able to provide a description of what you saw.

Larceny
On November 25, 2017 at approximately 11:15 a.m., the Manassas Police Department met with a victim that reported her wallet was stolen. The victim believes the wallet was taken from her purse while she was shopping at Dollar Tree (9692 Liberia Ave) on November 24 at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Anyone with information about these events is encouraged to call the Manassas City Police Department Investigative Services Division at (703) 257-8092 or Crime Solvers.  The Manassas City/Manassas Park Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward up to $1000.00 for information that leads to an arrest in these cases.  The confidential 24-hour tip line is (703) 330-0330.