The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" thread

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Just use the italics font.

Bazinga

[Lady Jane]

Ba ha ha....Loser!


https://news.yahoo.com/california-co...132022235.html

[SaMaster14]

Wondering if I’m being paranoid here, but thought it would be interesting to get the opinion of this thread!

I was in Beverly Hills today and had just parked. Someone was walking by and when I was about to put in my credit card to put money in the meter, he asked if I could take a picture of him with my car. At first, I thought nothing of it and obliged. He gave me his phone and walked up to my car and I snapped a photo. He then asked if I could get closer - which sketched me out just a bit (any closer and most of the car wouldn’t even be in teh frame, it would just be him…), so I thought maybe he was trying to get me to be close enough that it would register the key and he’d try and jump in, turn the car on, and take off.

Needless to say, I said no, I’m not going to get closer, snapped another pic and handed him his phone back and he thanked me and moved on.

Again, probably being paranoid here, but are there scams associated with this kinda thing? I don’t have a front license plate and there’s no way he’d be able to see the VIN in the photo either. Just kinda sketched me out a bit (especially with all of the theft and crime running rampant in Beverly Hills).

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by M2siast

The car doesn’t start if the key is not inside the car…

I’ve had people take photos of me when I asked and they removed the entire background. People are just weird and maybe that’s what he wanted (as the person who took my picture thought I wanted).

Makes sense and that’s what I thought. Very well he could have liked the car or wanted a tinder pic or something. Something just felt eerie/sketchy about it (but could just be paranoia, and he didn’t do anything to try and take something off me or anything (I’ve heard of those scams where one guy distracts with a request like this and someone else tried to steal your wallet/watch/keys, etc. (actually happened to me in Barcelona with a watch, but I had my wits about me and put the second guy on the ground while the “distractor” watched in horror before running away…))

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Attaboy!
Yes, better safe than sorry and you were nice enough to take a picture of him, with your car no less…

This is my feeling. If you didn’t feel right, follow that feeling. It could’ve been something or it could’ve been nothing, but I’m a big proponent of following your gut feeling(s).

Beverly Hills has seen an increase in crime thanks to the policies of L.A. County and the state of California in general. The insulated aren’t as protected anymore.

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This is my feeling. If you didn’t feel right, follow that feeling. It could’ve been something or it could’ve been nothing, but I’m a big proponent of following your gut feeling(s).

Beverly Hills has seen an increase in crime thanks to the policies of L.A. County and the state of California in general. The insulated aren’t as protected anymore.

Absolutely.
I’m just being paranoid now thinking of if he can do anything with the photo of him with my car on his phone. I read somewhere about people using those photos to say that it was their car and they were robbed at gunpoint and then try and scam people out of their bank accounts when they call and try to help. Not sure this person could do anything to target me with just a photo of them with my car

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

Absolutely.
I’m just being paranoid now thinking of if he can do anything with the photo of him with my car on his phone. I read somewhere about people using those photos to say that it was their car and they were robbed at gunpoint and then try and scam people out of their bank accounts when they call and try to help. Not sure this person could do anything to target me with just a photo of them with my car

There seems to be an endless list of scams out there; most so silly that I don’t know how people fall for them, but it happens.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

Absolutely.
I’m just being paranoid now thinking of if he can do anything with the photo of him with my car on his phone.

While you are/were focusing on the photo aspect, remember that the key fob in your pocket started negotiating with your car if you have keyless convenience unlock. An accomplice nearby (or even the photo-taker himself) could have had a sniffer that recorded this handshake for replay in the future.....

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

While you are/were focusing on the photo aspect, remember that the key fob in your pocket started negotiating with your car if you have keyless convenience unlock. An accomplice nearby (or even the photo-taker himself) could have had a sniffer that recorded this handshake for replay in the future.....

That's also what I was thinking, especially when he asked if I could come a bit closer...

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

While you are/were focusing on the photo aspect, remember that the key fob in your pocket started negotiating with your car if you have keyless convenience unlock. An accomplice nearby (or even the photo-taker himself) could have had a sniffer that recorded this handshake for replay in the future.....

Any let’s just hope that me not getting any closer thwarted any attempt at that, if it was his true intention (again, just seemed like a sketchy dude…) better to be weary than gullible when it comes to these things even if you come off a bit standoffish

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

Any let’s just hope that me not getting any closer thwarted any attempt at that, if it was his true intention (again, just seemed like a sketchy dude…) better to be weary than gullible when it comes to these things even if you come off a bit standoffish

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you.

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you.

Totally agree!

Let's just hope if that was his intention it failed, as, at least, after I gave the dude his phone back I did leave the car parked a good 20 minutes, although I didn't stray far and actually was always in a place where i could keep an eye on the car, and nobody tried to open the door or take off with it... would assume that would be this guys only chance...

[Reborn_]

Something probably was up, but I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. You should be fine.

Taking things a step further, your story got me thinking about the "risks" of accepting to take a photo for a stranger. Perp 1 hands you a stolen phone to snap photos; perp 2 walks by and 'accidently' bumps into you, phone drops and gets damaged. Now Perp 1 is bugging you for some cash... it's pretty easy to go down the path of don't trust anybody

[Reborn_]

Interested to hear LEO's perspective about dispatch on this story.

Many years ago, we got a stranger who rang the doorbell at ~8pm (after dark) on a weeknight. This was unusual, and we didn't know the guy. We talked to him through the door and I don't recall exactly what we said, but do recall it was fairly non-sensical. We asked the guy to leave, he stuck around for 15+ minutes and we called the police. Got OCSD out and they talked to the guy, who was claiming he just bought the house and it's his. The police spoke with us, my wife produced a bill with her name on the address and that solved it. The police asked him to leave. He left for 30 seconds and came back. Police were PISSED and told us we could trespass him, which we did, and they took him to jail after he failed to leave once they trespassed him.

Dude shows up 2-3 nights later. Same MO. Once we recognized him through the peephole, we didn't even speak with him, just called 911. I explained the above paragraph to dispatch and asked she send OCSD right away. She started arguing with me. "Have you asked him why he's there? Have you asked him what he wants? etc." I started getting pretty snarky in my responses at which point my wife grabbed the phone and played the "i'm a terrified woman card" and ultimately the police came. I don't recall exactly, but this time I think he left without being arrested. He never came again, so that was the end of it.

My question is .... I know dispatch fields a ton of dumb calls, but what's your take on this? Was it right of her to challenge my request for police support? The whole time she kept suggesting I open the door and talk to this gentleman. I can see that ending in 3 ways - home invasion etc., I kill him, or (perhaps most likely) I slam the door back in his face. I just couldn't believe she thought it was a good idea.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

Interested to hear LEO's perspective about dispatch on this story.

Many years ago, we got a stranger who rang the doorbell at ~8pm (after dark) on a weeknight. This was unusual, and we didn't know the guy. We talked to him through the door and I don't recall exactly what we said, but do recall it was fairly non-sensical. We asked the guy to leave, he stuck around for 15+ minutes and we called the police. Got OCSD out and they talked to the guy, who was claiming he just bought the house and it's his. The police spoke with us, my wife produced a bill with her name on the address and that solved it. The police asked him to leave. He left for 30 seconds and came back. Police were PISSED and told us we could trespass him, which we did, and they took him to jail after he failed to leave once they trespassed him.

Dude shows up 2-3 nights later. Same MO. Once we recognized him through the peephole, we didn't even speak with him, just called 911. I explained the above paragraph to dispatch and asked she send OCSD right away. She started arguing with me. "Have you asked him why he's there? Have you asked him what he wants? etc." I started getting pretty snarky in my responses at which point my wife grabbed the phone and played the "i'm a terrified woman card" and ultimately the police came. I don't recall exactly, but this time I think he left without being arrested. He never came again, so that was the end of it.

My question is .... I know dispatch fields a ton of dumb calls, but what's your take on this? Was it right of her to challenge my request for police support? The whole time she kept suggesting I open the door and talk to this gentleman. I can see that ending in 3 ways - home invasion etc., I kill him, or (perhaps most likely) I slam the door back in his face. I just couldn't believe she thought it was a good idea.

The dispatchers response seems odd if you told them that you had trespassed the guy the night before and it resulted in an arrest. Maybe a breakdown in communications on the part of the dispatcher or they didn't understand what you were telling them. The fact you called 911 for an intruder/trespasser should've moved this right up to dispatching at least one possibly 2 scout cars.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

right up to dispatching at least on possibly 2 scout cars.

Well, except that OCSD does have "scout" cars. They use real vehicles, eh

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Well, except that OCSD does have "scout" cars. They use real vehicles, eh

Sorry, my bad. How about patrol cars or cruisers or squads?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Sorry, my bad. How about patrol cars or cruisers or squads?

No worries, just validates our contingency plan to send a troop of girl SCOUTS to take over the north. They will be totally comfortable taking over your "cars"

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

Interested to hear LEO's perspective about dispatch on this story.

Many years ago, we got a stranger who rang the doorbell at ~8pm (after dark) on a weeknight. This was unusual, and we didn't know the guy. We talked to him through the door and I don't recall exactly what we said, but do recall it was fairly non-sensical. We asked the guy to leave, he stuck around for 15+ minutes and we called the police. Got OCSD out and they talked to the guy, who was claiming he just bought the house and it's his. The police spoke with us, my wife produced a bill with her name on the address and that solved it. The police asked him to leave. He left for 30 seconds and came back. Police were PISSED and told us we could trespass him, which we did, and they took him to jail after he failed to leave once they trespassed him.

Dude shows up 2-3 nights later. Same MO. Once we recognized him through the peephole, we didn't even speak with him, just called 911. I explained the above paragraph to dispatch and asked she send OCSD right away. She started arguing with me. "Have you asked him why he's there? Have you asked him what he wants? etc." I started getting pretty snarky in my responses at which point my wife grabbed the phone and played the "i'm a terrified woman card" and ultimately the police came. I don't recall exactly, but this time I think he left without being arrested. He never came again, so that was the end of it.

My question is .... I know dispatch fields a ton of dumb calls, but what's your take on this? Was it right of her to challenge my request for police support? [...]

Reading this kind of nonsense makes me appreciate Florida cops so much more.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

The dispatchers response seems odd if you told them that you had trespassed the guy the night before and it resulted in an arrest. Maybe a breakdown in communications on the part of the dispatcher or they didn't understand what you were telling them. The fact you called 911 for an intruder/trespasser should've moved this right up to dispatching at least on possibly 2 scout cars.

I agree! I work a lot of my overtime as a call taker, dispatcher or Watch Deputy. If somebody called and explained that story - and we had already been to your residence 2-3 days before - we/I would have a couple of cars roll to your residence without question.

[STATIC A$TRO]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Over on E46Fanatics, we would regularly have these "Ask a....." threads pop up in our Off Topic section from time to time, so I thought I would start one here to see how the member base takes to it. So ask me anything related to the profession (...Why certain things are done? Do we really eat donuts every day? Etc... ).

i have a fire arm but am really excited about showing it to you so i pull it out really quick, how should i go about that.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by STATIC A$TRO

i have a fire arm but am really excited about showing it to you so i pull it out really quick, how should i go about that.

That almost sounds like a euphemism. lol!