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Friday, November 15, 2024

Holiday Shopping Tips for Retail, Internet, and E-Commerce Purchases

Holiday Shopping Tips for Retail, Internet, and E-Commerce Purchases

Several People Have Reported Thefts While Buying or Selling in E-Commerce Transactions

  • 30 November 2017

Crime Stoppers Crime of the Week
November 30, 2017


Officer Mike Badger, Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Sangamon and Menard counties.

It’s the holiday season and shoppers have many more venues to make purchases than they had in the past, and criminals are trying to victimize innocent shoppers any way they can. I’d like to offer a couple tips on safe holiday shopping. First, when shopping at retail and big box stores, don’t leave purchases visible in your vehicles and practice common safety sense in parking lots.  If you are making purchases from Craig’s list, Facebook, or other e-commerce sites, ALWAYS meet buyers or sellers at well-lit public places with security cameras and do NOT meet buyers or sellers while you are alone. There are safe e-commerce zones all over the area including the Springfield Police Station and locations in Petersburg, Greenview, and Athens. Police have taken several reports of people attempting to buy items from posts on Facebook or E-Commerce sites such as Craig's List only to become victimized by someone pretending to have interest in buying (or selling) the item and then robbing them at a designated meeting point such as a parking lot of a fast food restaurant.


If you are making purchases directly on the internet, make sure you are on a valid website, not a clone site designed to steal your credit card information or drain your bank accounts. Many internet scams are initiated when people receive an email offering great deals and offering a link to a major retail store. After making the internet purchase and checking out with their credit card or routing number, they discover that the link was to a clone site of the retail store. Many of these clone sites are nearly perfect replica's of the true website.

If you can identify the suspects in any theft cases or scams, Crime Stoppers would like to hear from you.  Just call the tipline at 788-8427 or leave it on the website Cashfortips.us. Happy SAFE shopping!

 

 

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Past

Burglary

  • 6 November 2024
Burglary

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking to assist the Springfield Police Department to identify a suspicious individual(s) who were attempting to break into houses during the week of October 22nd in the 2300 block of Ramsey, in Springfield.  A male suspect or possibly two different males were seen on different occasions trying to enter a residence. On one occasion there was a male wearing a white sweat shirt and black pants and during another attempt there was a male wearing a red long-sleeved shirt or possibly sweatshirt and shorts.  Photos of the individual(s) can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or can identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Theft

  • 30 October 2024
Theft

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking to assist the Springfield Police Department to identify an individual reference a theft that occurred on October 3rd around 10pm at Hy-Vee Gas Station located at 1025 Outer Park, in Springfield.  A male suspect entered the gas station just before 10pm wearing a red Hy-Vee shirt over the top of a grey hoodie as well as a mask covering his face.  The suspect walked behind the counter and took over $1,000 in cash from a safe.  Photos of the individual can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or can identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Theft

  • 23 October 2024
Theft

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking to assist the Springfield Police Department to identify an individual reference a theft. On September 30th police were called to Miracle Temple Church, 1201 Pope St, in reference to a theft of landscaping.  Security video showed around 420 am on September 29th a black female wearing a blue jacket and black pants rode up to the church on a white bicycle.  The black female proceeded to pull out landscape lighting and wiring before riding off. The total amount of stolen items is worth several hundred dollars.  Images of the individual can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or can identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Shooting Investigation

  • 16 October 2024
Shooting Investigation

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking information to assist the Springfield Police Department reference a shooting that occurred in the 1100 block of West Jefferson in Springfield around 9 pm on October 8th, 2024.  Officers responded to the area for a report of shots fired.  During the incident two victims had been shot and were seriously injured.  Crimestoppers needs your help in solving this case.  If photos become available, they will be posted on this website, cashfortips.us. If you can identify a suspect, suspects or any vehicle involved, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website or use the P3 app.   If your tip leads to an arrest you could receive a cash reward of up to $2500. Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information not your name.

Up Coming Events

  • 9 October 2024
Up Coming Events

This week, Crime Stoppers is highlighting its upcoming fundraising events. Every Sunday at 7pm, the QUEEN OF HEARTS drawing takes place at Weebles Bar and Grill, with the current pot exceeding $7,500. Additionally, on October 21st, Crime Stoppers presents Rhythm and Brews at Hand of Fate Brewing in Petersburg, featuring Whirled Peas.  Doors open at 5pm and tickets are just $20, which includes complimentary food, drink, and souvenir. As always, individuals with information regarding any crime are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, on this website or the P3 app.   If your tip leads to an arrest you could receive a cash reward of up to $2500.

Counterfeit Money

  • 24 September 2024
Counterfeit Money

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking to assist the Springfield Police Department to identify an individual reference counterfeit money. On September 10th Officers responded to Nancy’s Pizza, 2301 W Monroe, in reference to an individual using a fake $50 bill.  The suspect was described as a black male wearing a grey shirt, black pants and a dew rag.  The suspect placed an order and used counterfeit money to pay.  It was discovered at that time by officers that the suspect had done the exact same thing to 3 other business in that location within the same time frame. Images of the individual can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or can identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Stolen Credit Cards

  • 18 September 2024
Stolen Credit Cards

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking to assist the Rochester Police Department to identify an individual reference stolen credit cards.  On August 22nd and then again on September 5th several vehicles were broken into at Rochester Community Park where purses and wallets were taken.  Then in the early evening on Sept. 5th , a white male wearing black sweat pants and a t-shirt attempted to use two of the stolen credit cards at Best Buy (3193 S Veterans Parkway).  Images of the individual can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or can identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Criminal Damage

  • 11 September 2024
Crime of the Week logo

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking information to assist the Springfield Police Department in reference to a Criminal Damage investigation.  Between August 30th and 31st in the overnight hours, an unknown person(s) cut down over 50 trees in a boulevard along the 1700 block of East Lake Shore Dr.  The trees, which were around 6 years old and of various types, sustained damage amounting to over $10,000.00.   Crime Stoppers needs your help in solving this case. If photos become available, they will be posted on this website, cashfortips.us. If you can identify a suspect, suspects or any vehicle involved, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 mobile app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Fentanyl Campaign

  • 28 August 2024
Crime of the Week logo

This week Crime Stoppers is unveiling a new initiative aimed at tackling the fentanyl crisis, offering a minimum reward of $1,500.00 for information that leads to an arrest of anyone dealing fentanyl.  According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, synthetic opioid-related deaths, primarily driven by fentanyl, have increased exponentially by over 3,000% since 2013.  In 2022, opioid-related deaths surpassed car crash fatalities by a ratio of 2 to 1.  IN Sangamon County, fentanyl was responsible for over 62% of overdose deaths in 2023.  Through collaborative efforts, we are working to eliminate this dangerous drug from our streets and create safer communities.  If you have any information regarding fentanyl or any other crime call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

Deceptive Practices

  • 21 August 2024
Deceptive Practices

This week Crime Stoppers is seeking information to assist the Springfield Police Department in reference to a Deceptive Practices and Forgery case.  On June 27th a white male approximately 30-40 years old entered The Gold Center (3001 W White Oaks Dr) with a cashier’s check in the amount of $45,000.00.  The suspect used the check to purchase several gold pieces.  At the time of transaction, the check was confirmed to be authentic.  Two days later it was discovered the check was fraudulent.  Photos of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving can be found on this website, cashfortips.us. If you have any information regarding this incident or may have seen the truck, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip on this website, or use the P3 app. If your tip results in an arrest you could receive a cash reward up to $2500.  Remember Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

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