An unsigned "mimeographed" (<-tee hee) flyer has shown up in area mailboxes. This obviously fake "Amazon Logistics" letter is in the photo. Click on it for a closer look. It's an obvious scam. Amazon would never: Use door-to-door "outreach" Use paper for first-line communication Need random customer feedback for logistics Ask for customers' access codes Send a person out to collect delivery preferences Not sign a letter with a name Use random capitalization (Our Business partner) Use photocopied paper Here at Havertownies HQ we received one of these flyers. When we asked @AmazonHelp, they assumed we were talking about an email phishing attempt. They were unfamiliar with this letter. We called the police and handed over the letter. Not all the neighbors received one so perhaps there is a leaked list of Amazon customers somewhere and this scammer got a hold of it. When posted on Facebook, another Townie thought she saw a while male, 30s, in black pants and shirt, driving a tan sedan distributing these flyers. This is just a guess, though, so take that under consideration. Our thought is the plan is this: Step 1: Distribute the flyers. Step 2: Send an official-looking person with stolen Amazon logos on his shirt and a clipboard to knock on doors. Step 3: Fish for information like where packages are left, whether or not doors are open, and if there is anyone home during the day. The Haverford PD said there are no permits issued right now for solicitation in the Township except for maybe the Natural Gas sellers. So no matter what, don't open the door to anyone you don't know and aren't expecting. Call 911 for any solicitors, even if they seem legit. To keep up with stuff like this, make sure to join and follow the following groups, pages and websites (starting with Havertownies.com, of course!) Havertown and Drexel Hill Community Network on Facebook. Closed group. You will need to wait for approval to join. Nextdoor.com … [Read more...]
Middle School boys stopped by police under suspicion of firearms
We are asking the HPD for an official statement about this incident. Sara Christiansen, the principal of Chatham Park, sent out a robocall message at 4:18 pm today. Here are some facts: at approximately 3:30 pm many police officers, canine units and inspectors converged on a group of male Haverford Middle School students based on a citizen tip that one of the youths was carrying a weapon. The children were horse playing at some point between the Middle School and Chatham, and the citizen saw what looked to be a gun. It has been confirmed that the weapon was a "toy" (as Ms. Christiansen put it in her message). According to Christiansen, 3 of the youths were taken into custody (they were transported to the police station but they were not under arrest at any time). Ms. Christiansen said at no time were the people or children at Chatham Park in danger. Will keep updates on the site. The toy in question was a popular, realistic and scary-looking spring gun like this: From a distance, the handgun can look like it is made from a light chrome metal, lending the appearance of a real gun. If one is unfamiliar with firearms and toy firearms with bright plastic tips, it is understandable how one can confuse the toy with a lethal weapon. As far as we know, these toys are banned from school premises. We'll keep you updated on this aspect or if the toy guns are banned in this township. Please contact us via our Facebook page or our Contact page here if you have any further questions or statements. UPDATE: April 2, 2014: Havertownies.com spoke with Officer Shant Bedrossian. The order of events seems to mostly jibe with Ms. Christiansen's account. Here are some more details: Citizen from an undisclosed location in Haverford Township spotted a boy with a weapon and tipped off police. Going on description of the boys and general last reported direction, officers stopped the boys at Chatham Park Elementary school. When questioned about the gun, the boys at … [Read more...]