Crime & Safety

Police Briefs: Brighton Area Woman Victim of 'DEA Scam'

The following arrest information was supplied by the Livingston County Sheriff's Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

A 49-year-old Brighton area woman reported she was tricked out of nearly $5,000 from a man posing to be a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA), according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The woman said the man called her and told her she was involved in an illegal drug ring because she purchased a diet drug online five years ago. The woman, who lives in Genoa Township, had bought a diet drug about five years ago, so she followed the man's instructions and sent the money to attorneys in the Dominican Republic who he said represent her.

The report referred to what happened the "DEA scam," a swindle about which the agency has issued a warning.

Find out what's happening in Brightonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment," the warning says.

"By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law. In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised."

Find out what's happening in Brightonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Car stolen from Brighton area Hertz Rental Car

A 2012 Malibu was stolen from the in Genoa Township sometime between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24 after the front door was busted open with a rock, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

Keys for four vehicles were taken but three of the them were at a collision shop, according to a police report. Using OnStar, the vehicle, worth $30,000, was later returned after it was impounded by state police in the Detroit area.

Four people were inside the vehicle when it was stopped, but no arrests were made, the report said. A 55-year-old Brighton man found two sets of the other three missing sets of keys while he was looking for cans in a dumpster behind a fuel station at Grand River Avenue and Hilton Road.

The sheriff's department detective bureau is now investigating the case.

Trailer stolen from in front of Brighton Township's man home

A 70-year-old Brighton Township man said his $700 master tow dolly was stolen from in front of his home in the 10100 block of Spencer Road, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The man told police he heard what sounded like loud truck exhaust at about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 17 in front of his house where he keeps the trailer, which he discovered missing when he checked outside at about 8:30 a.m., a police report says.

Steel equipment valued at more than $100,000 that was used for a water tower painting business was reported stolen, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

More than $100,000 in steel equipment stolen

A 36-year-old Hartland man who runs the business, Horizon Brothers, said it was taken sometime between Nov. 24 and Dec. 12 from near a pole barn where it was stored in the 1400 block of N Old U.S. 23, according to a police report.

The equipment missing was: 30,000 feet of steel cable (worth $1 a foot), 300 steel pipes (worth $120 each) and 100 steel outriggers (worth $400 each), according to the report.

Train tickets for trip in France charged to Hartland area woman

A 38-year-old Hartland area woman reported someone fraudulently charged $134 to buy train tickets in France on her credit card, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The woman, who lives in Oceola Township near the Hartland border, said the Dec. 10 transaction was for tickets from Puteau, France to Paris, France, according to a police report.

Purse, loose change stolen from unlocked vehicles

A tan Coach purse, including a credit card and Dolce and Gabana sunglasses, and $5 in change was reported stolen from two unlocked vehicles parked in the 13400 block of Denver Drive.

A 24-year-old Hartland woman said the items were taken sometime midnight and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 14, according to a police report. The purse is valued at $200 and a charge at a Highland Township fuel station was made before the theft could be reported, the report said. The loose change was taken from her 27-year-old boyfriend's vehicle, the report said.

For questions about these briefs, email chris.machniak@patch.com.


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