Law & Order

FLORENCE

Police warn of local scams, including 'hit man' threat

Police are warning residents of two scams that have been circulating in the area.

"If someone comes up and offers to split a sack full of money with you for $1,000, don't do it," Florence police Lt. Randy England said.

England said routinely his office will receive calls from individuals who have been "conned" into getting involved in the scam.

"We have at least 4-5 people every year that are duped into this," England said. "They're convinced by someone that they have found a bag of money, usually $50,000, and are willing to split it with the victim for $1,000 or $2,000. Once the crooks have the money, they're gone and the victims are left empty-handed.

England said the targets of the scam are usually elderly people who may be more trustworthy.

"And it's not local people who are conducting the scams; it's people who travel from place to place looking for easy targets.

"The bottom line is nobody is going to find a bag with $50,000 and then offer it to split it for $1,000. It just isn't going to happen."

England said the second scam that has been reported locally is an e-mail scam.

"This is a nationwide scam that has been reported in various parts of the country," England said. "In this scam innocent people are contacted by e-mail from so-called hit men who claim to have been paid a large amount of money to kill them."

In the e-mail, England said the hit man claims to have been watching the victim and wants the victim to pay him and he'll tear up the contract.

"It's nothing but a hoax, but we've had several people calling us scared to death that someone was about to kill them if they didn't pay a certain amount of money," England said.

COLBERT COUNTY

Sheffield man being held for burglary near Littleville

Authorities say a Sheffield man has been charged in connection with the burglary of a residence near Littleville where more than $20,000 in jewelry was taken.

Wendell R. Hopkins, 44, of 602 W. Sixth St., Sheffield, has been charged with second-degree burglary.

Colbert County sheriff's deputies said Hopkins is accused of burglarizing a house on Kirkland Avenue, just outside of Littleville.

Reports indicate that $20,860 in jewelry were taken from the residence May 6.

Authorities said the majority of the items have been recovered.

Hopkins is being held in the Colbert County Jail on bail of $5,000.

ARRESTS

Franklin sheriff

Curtis Stanton Karr, 45, 926 Butler Road, Haleyville; outstanding warrants on conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Colbert sheriff

n Derek E. Bates, 28, 865 Cassie Davis St., Leighton; was arrested during the roundup for intimidating a witness.

Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said Bates has a pending drug case in circuit court and he is accused of trying to intimidate a person who is supposed to testify against him.

REPORTS

Muscle Shoals police

Theft: Three packs of ribeye steaks, a pack of strawberries and more than $75 in other meat items were taken from a business in the 500 block of West Avalon Avenue.

Theft: A purse was taken from a residence in the 1900 block of Sheffield Avenue.

Theft: Paper towels, a car seat, two packs of steaks and beer were taken from a business in the 500 block of Avalon Avenue.

Burglary: A television was taken from a business in the 2000 block of Wilson Dam Road.

Theft: More than $175 in grocery items, $60 in cash, three package of razor blades, an air filter, sandals and shorts were taken from a business in the 500 block of West Avalon Avenue.

Sheffield police

Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle: A 2007 black Volkswagen was taken from the parking lot of the Regal Inn Motel, Hatch Boulevard.

Property damage: A 1991 green Ford Ranger was damaged while parked in the 1200 block of North Atlanta Avenue.

Unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle: A lawn mower and laptop computer were taken from a vehicle parked in the 1500 block of 30th Street.

Criminal mischief: A bathroom mirror was broken in a room at the Webster Inn.

Theft: A license plate was taken from a 1995 red Ford Taurus while it was parked in the 1800 block of Tennessee Street.

Theft: Two diamond cluster gold band rings were taken from a residence in the 1200 block of Greer Street.

Theft: A 1989 white Chevrolet Caprice Classic was taken from a residence in the 700 block of East 20th Street.

Criminal mischief: A hydraulic pump, hoses, gauges and wiring on an irrigation pump were damaged at the baseball complex on Blackwell Road.

Lauderdale county sheriff

Criminal mischief: A glass door was damaged at West Lauderdale Veterinary Clinic on Alabama 20, Central Heights.

Theft: A carburetor was taken from a residence on Lauderdale 8, Florence.

Criminal mischief: A residence was damaged in the 8800 block of U.S. 43, Killen.

Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle: A 2001 red Ford Escape was taken from a residence on Alabama 20, Florence.

Attempted burglary: A wooden door and lock were damaged at the Cypress Creek Methodist Church on Lewis Bruce Lane, Florence, but nothing was reported taken.

Theft: Five gallons of gas and 60 feet of copper were taken from a residence in the 600 block of Sunset Beach Road, Florence.

Attempted burglary: A door frame was damaged at a residence in the 200 block of Lauderdale 218, Florence. Nothing was reported taken but items were scattered throughout the residence.

Theft: Farm equipment, valued at $1,000, was taken from a residence in the 1300 block of Pine Street, Killen.

Criminal mischief: A black 2000 Ford Mustang was damaged while parked in the 900 block of Lauderdale 228, Florence.

Criminal mischief: A lock was cut and fence damaged at a residence in the 3000 block of Lauderdale 63, Killen.

Burglary: Gasoline was taken from a storage facility in the 7600 block of U.S. 43, Florence.

Attempted burglary: A rear door and door jam were damaged at a residence in the 3400 block of Kolby Lane, Florence, but nothing was reported taken.

Criminal mischief: A mailbox was damaged at a residence in the 300 block of Meadow Grove Lane, Florence.

Burglary: Tools and a fireproof safe with cash, valued at $2,500, were taken from a residence in the 100 block of Lauderdale 9, Florence.

Burglary: A television, DVD player, 19-inch TV/DVD, wireless card, computer keyboard, computer mouse, fingerprint reader, computer and computer processor were taken from a residence in the 200 block of MacKenzie Lane, Florence.

Criminal mischief: A residence was damaged in the 100 block of East Rasch Road, Florence.