Incident Reports: Several Fall Prey to Rental Scam

Crimes and suspicious incidents reported to the Southampton Town Police Department between April 23 and April 29.

Grand Larceny

• On April 24, an East Hampton woman reported that $1,200 was stolen from her after she sent a first-month house rental payment by Western Union to an address in England. The victim, said police, was under the impression that the payment was for a rental in Southampton. When she showed up at the house, someone was already living on the property. The person at the house told police that two other would-be renters have already fallen prey to the same scam so far.

• A woman who formerly worked at a Westhampton chiropractic practice is accused of taking $1,585 from the office file cabinet. Police detectives called the woman April 28 and said she agreed to return the money. The chiropractor said he would not pursue charges if restitution was made.

• A Hampton Bays man complained to police April 24 that someone stole a wallet out of his car while he was at Planet Fitness on West Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays during the day. Numerous credit cards, $60 in cash, medical prescriptions and a drivers license are missing.

• In Southampton on April 24, a man complained to police that items were taken from the front porch and rear yard of his property on Parrish Pond Court. Missing are wicker chairs, a table, and other assorted outdoor furniture. No suspects have yet been named.

Public Lewdness

• A woman who was walking her dog on a Southampton beach at Inlet Road April 25 told police that a man exposed himself to her. If apprehended, the man faces a charge of public lewdness.

• On April 28, a woman who owns a house in Riverside told police that she saw a man and woman commit a sexual act in the woods outside her bathroom window. By the time the victim called 911, however, the two had left the property. Public lewdness is a class-B misdemeanor.

Attempted Robbery

• An East Hampton man was attacked, said police, April 25 in Riverside by two unknown males who knocked the victim to the ground, punched him and went through his pockets. Cops are searching for the two men who escaped the scene on foot. If caught, they face a felony charge of third-degree attempted robbery.

Harassment

• A Westhampton woman who lives on Hamilton Avenue is upset because her neighbor's dog has been defecating on her property and its owner has not been cleaning it up. When the complainant confronted the neighbor at her house April 27, according to the police report, she was slapped in the face by the other woman. No criminal charges, however, have yet been filed.

Petty Larceny

• An employee of a Westhampton seafood restaurant told police April 14 that a customer stole $100 in cash from the front podium. The money, said the witness, was in plain view before it was stolen.

• On April 28, a Flanders woman reported that someone stole a Garmin GPS device from her car that was parked on Brookhaven Avenue. The missing GPS is worth $150.

Criminal Mischief

• A Hampton Bays man complained April 29 that someone let the air out of the tires of his 2008 Mercedes that was parked at the Hampton Dream nightclub on Canal Road. He added that, on the same evening, his front windshield was also damaged by an unknown object.

• A dispute between two neighbors who live on Riverdale Drive in Hampton Bays involved police when one woman complained April 24 that her fence was being damaged. Police are attempting to contact the other homeowner.

• Police are looking for the person responsible for damaging the siding of a home on Atlantic Avenue in Hampton Bays April 23. Cops said a pellet BB gun was possibly used to create three holes and chips in the siding.