Crime in Riverside for the past month

BY ERIK MCCLANAHAN

One of the most common methods of credit card fraud has been occurring at stations and convenience stores in the Riverside area.

According to 3rd Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Don Greeley, there have been several incidents where victims of robbery and theft from motor vehicles have reported credit cards stolen. The suspects have been offering to fill gas tanks for patrons with the stolen cards if they pay a smaller sum, like $20. If this activity is witnessed, immediately call 911 and notify the store employees. The best deterrent to this, according to Greeley, is to leave the credit cards at home, unless you absolutely need them, and always take them out of your car.

Some crime trends have continued in the 3rd Precinct: Longfellow and Seward have again reported the highest number of crimes in the Riverside area, while Cooper has reported the fewest number of crimes. Larceny and burglary are the most common offenses reported in the neighborhoods.

Reported crimes in Riverside neighborhoods from Aug. 13 to Sept. 12 are as follows: Seward: one robbery, three aggravated assaults, nine burglaries, 12 larcenies, seven auto thefts, and one arson; Longfellow: five robberies, three aggravated assaults, 11 burglaries, 33 larcenies, and seven auto thefts; Hiawatha: two robberies, two aggravated assaults, 16 burglaries, and 12 larcenies; Howe: two robberies, three aggravated assaults, nine burglaries, nine larcenies, three auto thefts, and one arson. Cooper: five burglaries, eight larcenies, and three auto thefts.