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Police Chief: Fraud Prevention for Seniors

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According to the “2018 DOJ Report on Senior Abuse and Financial Exploitation,” each year an estimated $3 billion is stolen from America’s seniors through a variety of mass mailing, romance, and vendor or contractor scams.  They may also fall prey to imposters who claim to represent the IRS, Medicare or Medicaid, or Social Security. Unfortunately, New Canaan is not immune to these scams. 

Thus far in 2022, our Department investigated 57 fraud complaints (a 128% increase compared to 2021), and some of these frauds targeted seniors. Recently, a senior resident contacted our Department to report being the victim of a tech-support scam (more about these scams below). The resident reported receiving a computer pop-up message about a “hack alert.” The resident clicked on the alert and allowed the fraudster to control the resident’s computer. Subsequently, the resident was told to call an “800” number and spoke with the fraudster.

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New Canaan Police Help Elderly Resident Recover $145,000 Stolen in Scam

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Two New Canaan police officers recently helped an elderly resident who been scammed out of $145,000 recover the money, officials said. Police Chief Leon Krolikowski during last week’s Police Commission meeting spotlighted a letter of appreciation regarding the work that Officers Joseph Schinella and Owen Ochs did on what the chief called a “pretty exceptional” case. “It’s a constant battle,” Krolikowski told members of the Police Commission during their Sept. 21 meeting, referring to scams that often target older residents. Sgt.

Bill Oestmann

Selectmen Approve Lease Agreement for Temporary NCPD Headquarters Downtown

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The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a two-year lease for the New Canaan Police Department to relocate to a building downtown during the widely anticipated renovation of its South Avenue headquarters. 

The building at 39 Locust Ave., longtime home of New Canaan Public Schools, will be vacated by the district following the academic year now underway, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan. 

“It so happens the Board of Ed space fits the needs for two years,” Moynihan said during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

Under the lease agreement, the town will pay about $30,000 per month in rent, through June 2025. According to the agreement, the Board of Education is paying the building’s owner—a limited liability company whose principal is a Frogtown Road man, state records show—about $217,000 for terminating the lease early. Moynihan and Selectmen Kathleen Corbet and Nick Williams voted 3-0 in favor of the lease. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Board of Finance and/or Town Council must also approve it. Bill Oestmann, buildings superintendent with the Department of Public Works, said the town must “do a few things to make the space meet the needs for Police Department usage.”

“And that will include a generator,” Oestmann said.

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Police Chief: ‘Check-Washing’ Crimes Hit New Canaan

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New Canaan Police are warning residents about the theft and alteration of checks stolen from mailboxes in town. Officers are investigating reports of personal checks stolen from residential mailboxes on Ferris Hill and West Roads, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “These checks were ‘washed’ and made payable to parties who were not the intended payee,” Krolikowski said in a press release. Two years ago, during the first summer of the pandemic, New Canaan saw a rash of similar crimes, where the payee as well as the amount written out on checks was altered by criminals. Krolikowski’s press release included a link to more information on “check-washing.”

He issued these prevention tips:

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: Get to know your neighbors, watch out for them, and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately.

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Police Chief: ‘Working Together to Keep Our College Students Safe’

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Very soon, hundreds of New Canaan students will move to a nearby city or across the country to pursue their studies. Becoming independent almost overnight comes with specific risks and responsibilities. Street crime is on the increase in most large United States cities. Crime is also growing on campuses and in small communities. No college is immune to crime.