Yelm police warns community of scam callers
The City of Yelm Police Department warned the community of scam calls claiming recipients had outstanding arrest warrants. Residents were told they had to pay in order to have the warrant cleared and if they didn’t pay, they would send deputies to arrest them.
The department confirmed through a Facebook post that this type of call is a scam and that officers would never call people and request money to clear a warrant or demand payment in gift cards. This is a common scam currently used across the nation with the suspects identifying themselves as police officers, deputies or the federal government.
YPD encourages residents to contact the department if they receive a call of this nature and to not give the caller any personal information.
Suspect arrested after stealing $3,000+ from two stores
Yelm police officers responded to reports of shoplifting at two Yelm stores Monday, July 22.
First they were dispatched to Yelm’s Walmart around 12:20 p.m. on Monday, July 22, following reports that a man had left Walmart with a cart full of merchandise after ripping off security tags on the items. According to police reports, the items stolen were valued at $2,197.80.
Yelm police officers were later dispatched to Yelm’s Safeway after an employee reported that a shoplifter had returned to the store. Upon arrival, police officers located the suspect at the Bud Barn dispensary across the street from Safeway.
According to police reports, the individual also stole over $1,300 in merchandise from Yelm’s Safeway.
He was arrested on two counts of second degree theft and booked into Thurston County Jail.
Fraud reported at J&I Power Equipment
Yelm Police Department responded to reports of fraud around 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, at J&I Power Equipment in Yelm.
According to police reports, a man used a loan to purchase a $5,000 zero-turn lawn mower and told the business that his son would be picking it up.
Later in the day, a younger man showed up at the business to pick up the mower. He told employees that his father also wanted to purchase a $70,000 excavator, which would be financed through Kubota.
Employees at J&I Power Equipment requested photo identification from the individual claiming to be the man’s son. His name on the ID did not match the name he gave, however.
After J&I Power Equipment representatives called police to report potential fraud, YPD ran a department of licensing records check, and the photo on the ID was not the same person claiming to be the individual wanting to purchase the $70,000 piece of equipment for his father.
There is probable cause for first-degree identity theft, along with first-degree criminal impersonation.
