Police Blotter: Scammer Abuses Phone Service for Deaf to Swindle Local Eatery

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Monday, March 1

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: Police believe a recent report of a motor vehicle burglary, filed by a resident of Catherine Street, is related to a string of car burglaries that occurred during the wee hours of Feb. 23.

In that case, police say a Hoyt Street resident witnessed a man rummaging through unlocked cars parked in the nearby area; two Catherine Street residents subsequently filed reports of missing valuables.

A third Catherine Street resident came forward on March 1, telling police that a pair of black leather gloves, valued at about $20, has gone missing from his 1988 Ford Taurus. He said he left the car unlocked in the driveway on the same morning his neighbors fell victim and was prompted to file a report after learning of their misfortune.

Wednesday, March 3

LARCENY/SCAM: A Darien woman, believing she had been chosen as a "secret shopper," deposited a counterfeit check and was left $3,700 out of pocket.

Read the full story here: Darien Woman Loses Nearly $4K in Email Scam

Friday, March 5

ATTEMPTED LARCENY/SCAM: Police say a scam artist abused a phone relay service used to link deaf and hearing callers, in order to swindle a local eatery out of money. It's a scam that's targeted eateries before, say police, and one that plays on the restaurateur's sympathy for the deaf and the operator's legal obligation to carry out the call—even when he or she may know it's a fraud.

Capt. Komm said the owner of Backstreet Restaurant received a takeout order for "265 Chicken Caesar Salads, ready for pickup by 3 p.m.," from a relay caller who went by the name of John Fish.

"And there was something fishy," said Capt. Komm.

Informed that the order totaled upwards of $1,500, Fish relayed his credit card information and asked that the owner charge an additional $975 to his card. Police say the Backstreet owner grew suspicious, but the card processed nonetheless.

It was when Fish asked that the owner please wire the $975 to Fortuna California via Western Union, that the Backstreet owner hung up on Fish, and phoned the police.

DWI: Laura Shanahan of Stamford was charged with DWI for an accident that occured two months prior. Police say the 44-year-old woman crashed her Jeep Wrangler into a stonewall on Middlesex Road near Hollow Tree Ridge Road at about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 of last year. According to reports, Post 53 found Shanahan "dizzy, disoriented and confused" and transported her to Norwalk Hospital. Police obtained a search warrant to test Shanahan's blood alcohol level. She turned herself in on March 5, posted $500 bond and has a court date of March 15.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY: Police have charged a Rowayton man with Criminal Attempt to Burglary after he backed his Cadillac Escalade into the front doors of Grieb's Pharmacy—once, twice, three times unlucky—in the wee morning hours.

Read the full story and watch the surveillance footage here: Man Drives into Grieb's Pharmacy in Attempted 'Smash and Grab'

Saturday, March 6

DWI/SPEEDING: Police say James DeLuca of Dubois Street was traveling west on the Post Road at 56 mph, when he hit a curb near Birch Road and drove onto the sidewalk. DeLuca was stopped for speeding and subsequently failed his field sobriety test. He posted $250 bond and has a court date of March 19.

Sunday, March 7

DWI: It's never a good thing when a driver falls asleep at the wheel, said Capt. Komm; nor is it wise to stop one's car in the middle of the road. Police say Nathan Brito of Easton unfortunately did both, putting himself and others in harm's way.

At about 3:50 a.m., police observed a Toyota, stopped in the middle of the Post Road near Hollow Tree Ridge Road. They say that Brito was found slumped over at the wheel, eyes closed; his car was still on. Brito didn't respond to a knocking on the window, so police opened the door and eventually woke him.

Brito failed his field sobriety test and was placed under arrest for DWI. He posted $2,500 bond and was then turned over to Norwalk Police, who had an arrest warrant stemming from a previous failure to appear.

DWI: Police obtained an arrest warrant for Evan Kopek of Stamford for charges that stem from a Christmas Day motor vehicle accident. Police say that the accident occurred just after midnight on Leroy Ave. near McClaren Road, where Kopek struck a utility pole in his Honda Civic. Kopek's car was left it bad shape; Kopek himself suffered non life-threatening injuries and was transported to Stamford Hospital. He posted $250 bond and has a court date of March 19.