Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Fake Wide-Screen TV Scam On The Rise In Bay Area
Lisa Chan
Reporting
(BCN) VACAVILLE Vacaville police are warning residents about scams Tuesday after a Vacaville man was arrested on suspicion of trying to sell a "wide-screen television" that turned out to be a used oven door.
Sgt. Matt Lydon said a woman called police at 12:44 p.m. to report a man tried to sell her a flat screen television in the parking lot of a discount store on Peabody Road. The man promised "the deal of the century" but the woman said she was not interested.
She also took down the license plate number of the seller's blue Acura Integra before the suspect and another man drove away, Lydon said.
Officer Lucy Makimoto saw the vehicle enter Interstate Highway 80 at Mason Street and stopped the car on westbound I-80 at Cherry Glen Road, Lydon said. Police unwrapped two shrink-wrapped rectangular objects that appeared to be flat screen televisions with price tags, Lydon said.
The front sides of the objects had a tinted piece of plastic that resembled a television screen but were used oven doors, Lydon said. Police also found two boxes that purportedly contained laptop computers but instead contained 12-inch floor tiles, Lydon said.
Police arrested 51-year-old Charles Wright of Vacaville for attempting to obtain property under false pretenses and attempted grand theft, Lydon. The second man in the Acura was questioned and released with being arrested.
"The adage rings true, 'If it appears to be too good to be true, it probably is,'" Lydon said. He said police receives several such calls each year.
Lisa Chan
Reporting
(BCN) VACAVILLE Vacaville police are warning residents about scams Tuesday after a Vacaville man was arrested on suspicion of trying to sell a "wide-screen television" that turned out to be a used oven door.
Sgt. Matt Lydon said a woman called police at 12:44 p.m. to report a man tried to sell her a flat screen television in the parking lot of a discount store on Peabody Road. The man promised "the deal of the century" but the woman said she was not interested.
She also took down the license plate number of the seller's blue Acura Integra before the suspect and another man drove away, Lydon said.
Officer Lucy Makimoto saw the vehicle enter Interstate Highway 80 at Mason Street and stopped the car on westbound I-80 at Cherry Glen Road, Lydon said. Police unwrapped two shrink-wrapped rectangular objects that appeared to be flat screen televisions with price tags, Lydon said.
The front sides of the objects had a tinted piece of plastic that resembled a television screen but were used oven doors, Lydon said. Police also found two boxes that purportedly contained laptop computers but instead contained 12-inch floor tiles, Lydon said.
Police arrested 51-year-old Charles Wright of Vacaville for attempting to obtain property under false pretenses and attempted grand theft, Lydon. The second man in the Acura was questioned and released with being arrested.
"The adage rings true, 'If it appears to be too good to be true, it probably is,'" Lydon said. He said police receives several such calls each year.
