Police Warn Residents Of Recent Thefts, Scams
MILFORD — At the Milford Town Council meeting Monday, Aug. 10, Town Marshal Rich Miotto warned residents of recent criminal activities.
The police have received reports of several vehicles getting robbed of loose change, cigarettes and other personal items. Miotto suggested residents make sure their vehicles are locked at all times, and not leave anything of value inside, such as wallets and cellphones.
The department also receives complaints “almost weekly” of phone scams, said Miotto.
These scams take many forms, but they usually involve the caller asking for money or personal information. They also tend to target the elderly, Miotto stated.
In a recent example, an elderly Milford resident was informed she had received a “grant” of $9,000 and only needed to send $245 to collect. This attempt was unsuccessful.
“Don’t give any personal information over the telephone,” stressed Miotto. Scammers often claim to be a bank or the Internal Revenue Service. Those organizations already have your information, he said, and don’t need to ask for it over the phone. Other scams include callers asking for money to bail a relative out of jail or claiming the victim has won a prize.
Miotto also reported more incidents of vandalism, possibly due to the beginning of the school year.
Milford Police Department will have a complaint form available next month. The form is based on one used by the Michigan State Police and may be used by residents if they wish to lodge a complaint against a police officer or someone else which does not require immediate service.