January was a “boring” month for the Lowell Police Department, but when it comes to crime, that’s the way we like it. Officers dealt with a variety of small cases along with a scammer who thought they’d pull a fast one on Betten Baker. However, a smart salesperson made sure that didn’t happen.
Overall, in January 2024, the department logged 182 cases including the followings:
- 31 pistol permits and sales
- 30 assists to other agencies
- 20 general and motorist assists
- 15 suspicious situations
- 7 welfare checks
- 5 traffic accidents
- 3 disorderly conduct
- 2 non-aggravated assaults
- 2 trespassing
- 2 fraud
- 1 Flock hit
Lowell officers also made 92 traffic stops that resulted in 17 citations.
Online Sale Actually a Scam
Betten Baker was contacted about an online car sale from an out-of-state buyer. The person wanted to buy a vehicle from Lowell and ship it to Ohio. In today’s world, buying a car sight unseen is becoming increasingly common, and a purchase request from an out-of-state buyer isn’t necessarily a red flag in and of itself.
However, as the sale representative prepared to complete the transaction, some things didn’t add up, such as conflicting billing and delivery addresses. The Lowell Police Department was contacted, and an officer was able to track down and make contact with the person whose name was being used for the transaction.
It ends up the individual was not, in fact, trying to purchase a $42,000 vehicle from Lowell, and that person’s identity had been stolen. Officers provided the victim with information on steps to minimize the chances of his credit being used like this again in the future.
Unfortunately, the criminals behind the scam are likely based overseas so prosecuting them seems unlikely, according to the police.
Trespassing Cases
Lowell officers handled two trespassing cases last month.
In one case, an individual had been evicted but refused to leave the property. In the other, a person had been barred from a business but continued to repeatedly return. That person was ticketed during the most recent incident.
Stolen Vehicle Found at Apartments
The property manager at Center Court Apartments noticed a vehicle had been sitting unused in the lot for an extended period of time.
Lowell Police Department was contacted, and it was determined that the vehicle had been stolen two years ago in Grand Rapids. There is no word on how the vehicle may have made its way to Lowell.
Snow Removal Reminders
While it has been a mild winter, it is Michigan, and snow may still make a return. If it does, Police Chief Chris Hurst reminds people that sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours, and snowplow services may not push snow into the road or across the street. Snow needs to stay on the same side of the road as your property.
Vehicles are not to be parked on the street between the hours of 2am and 6am from Nov. 1 to March 31. While cars normally are not allowed to be parked on the grass, Hurst says it is ok to temporarily park in a yard overnight if that is the only way to get a vehicle off the road and out of the way of plows.
Regardless of the snow, residents are also reminded to remove any debris from sidewalks, such as tree branches that may fall during spring storms, to keep walkways accessible and passable for everyone.
Leave a Reply