Ohio police have uncovered a cunning new scheme burglars are doing to target wealthy-looking victims.
Criminals are preying on potential marks by attaching cell phones to newer model cars, then using the GPS trackers to follow them home, according to the Kirtland Police Department.
The department, which is located 20 minutes outside of Cleveland, issued a chilling warning after a family member of one of their officers almost fell victim to the scam.
Officer Joseph Gibson told WOIO that his sister was out to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July when she heard something hit her car.
‘She didn’t think anything of it. She thought it was a rock,’ he said. ‘She never had a chance to see the phone being hit on top of the roof, slide down the windshield of the car and lodge onto the car. Now there is a tracking device on your vehicle.’
Once his sister got home, a couple knocked on her door claiming she had their phone.
‘She gets home, an hour later and there’s a couple walking up to her driveway. It’s 11:30 at night. So, it suspicious,’ Gibson said. ‘My reaction as a family member and police officer, red flags were popping up.’
Ohio police discovered criminals are preying on potential victims by attaching cell phones to newer model cars
Kirtland Police Officer Joseph Gibson (pictured) said his sister was targeted by criminals using this scheme while she was out watching fireworks on the Fourth of July
Gibson’s sister refused to open the door and called 911 instead. Then, the couple and two other cars drove off, according to the police officer.
The next morning, she gave her cop brother a call and found the phone lodged into her car.
Gibson warned others to stay alert and take extra precautions to help prevent from falling victim to the new scam.
‘Park your car in the garage. Change your routine. Don’t be predictable. Don’t get into a pattern of driving the same route at the same time,’ said Gibson.
Shortly after his sister’s run in with the criminals, the Kirtland Police Department put out a warning about the new scam.
The department explained how criminals target and attack their potential victims.
‘Team of criminals are attempting to attach a cell phone to newer model cars. They will do this by throwing a phone on the roof of a vehicle – when the phone slides down it has a magnet that will attach to the vehicle,’ Kirtland police said.
Police explained that criminals will throw a phone on the roof of a car then track it to their victim’s home and try and rob them
‘They then use this cell phone to track where the person driving the vehicle lives. They knock on the door claiming the homeowner has their cell phone.’
Kirtland police elaborated that the criminals will try to barge into their victim’s homes and even trick them into thinking the police are already on the way.
‘Once the door is opened, they force entry into the residence – other vehicles are positioned in the street to assist in the home invasion as lookouts and get away cars,’ the department said.
‘The criminals will also tell the homeowner they called the police to try and get the homeowner to open the door.’
