Saratoga resident pays fake invoice for more than $74k

July 21

Vandalism, theft of copper: Between 3:30 p.m. on July 18 and 6:30 a.m. on July 21, someone entered a construction site in the 18000 block of Cox Avenue, damaged an electrical panel and stole about 1,000 feet of a copper wired extension cord for a loss valued at approximately $5,000.

July 22

Vandalism: At 6:43 p.m. on July 21 and 4:05 p.m. on July 22, two juvenile suspects kicked the gate of a residence in the 14000 block of Wildwood Way, causing damage estimated at approximately $600.

July 24

Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone posed as representatives with a company the victim does business with and sent the victim an invoice, which the victim paid, for a total loss valued at approximately $74,250.

Theft by false pretenses: A Saratoga resident reported that someone convinced them to invest money in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme for a total loss of approximately $25,000.

Petty theft: Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., someone stole an unsecured bicycle left in the bushes by the street in the 13000 block of Beaumont Avenue for a total loss of approximately $600.

Petty theft: At 2:57 p.m., someone stole two mail packages left near the front patio gate of a residence in the 19000 block of Vineyard Lane for a total loss of approximately $174.

July 25

Fraudulent registration tab, suspended license, missing license plate, stolen property: At 3:11 p.m., deputies stopped a motorist driving a vehicle without a front license plate at Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Blauer Drive. An investigation revealed the suspect was driving with a suspended license and the vehicle’s rear license plate was displaying a stolen registration tab. The suspect was cited and released.