Press Release

Today’s Date: April 2, 2018
Submitted By: Gail Jimenez, Community Services Officer
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Reports of thefts from vehicles continue

As previously reported, the City of Winters continues to experience a series of thefts from unlocked vehicles and some auto burglaries. Although a small portion of these crimes involved forced entry into the vehicles, the vast majority of thefts (70%) occurred from unlocked vehicles or vehicles with their windows cracked for ventilation. The thefts have occurred throughout the city regardless if the vehicle was parked in a driveway or on the street.

Some of the items taken are small electronics (lap tops, tablets, Ipods, GPS), purses, wallets, assorted cash, and small personal items (chargers and sunglasses). All appeared to be crimes of opportunity involving items left in plain sight.

While several residents have provided screenshots from home security camera and several arrests have been made, the number of thefts from unlocked vehicles has continued un-abated. Since September of 2017, Winters Officers have taken 64 reports and believe many more incidents have gone un-reported.

The Winters Police Department reminds residents that leaving vehicle unlocked and items visible in your vehicle provides an opportunity for thieves to enter your vehicle and take your possessions with little effort. Any information regarding suspicious persons in your neighborhood can be reported anonymously by calling 530-795-4561.

To help prevent theft always:
• Park in well-lighted area, if possible
• Lock your vehicle always and activate security system
• Never leave valuables, including firearms, in your vehicle
• Secure all items from view. If it can be seen, it can be stolen
• Report any suspicious activity to Winters Police at 530-795-4561 for non-emergency. Call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Always remembering to “REMOVE IT, LOCK IT, OR LOSE IT” reduces your chance of being the next victim.

Today’s Date: 02-27-2018
Submitted By: Community Service Officer Gail Jimenez
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Shirley Rominger Intermediate School Bicycle Rodeo

The Winters Police Department will partner with the California Highway Patrol- Woodland Office, Winters Combined Parent Teacher Association, Shirley Rominger Intermediate School, the City of Winters, the After School Program and many individual volunteers to help put on Bicycle Rodeos for the students of Shirley Rominger Intermediate School.

Bicycle Rodeos are interactive courses which teach basic bicycle safety skills. Participants rotate through educational stations, and then apply their newfound knowledge on active skills courses. Bike Rodeos provide children with the skills they need to ride independently in our community as part of a healthy life style.

This year Shirley Rominger Intermediate School will be holding their Bicycle Rodeo on March 15th. The rodeo is open to all SRIS students, who may use bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or roller skates to participate. A limited number of loaner bicycles are available for students who need them.

The bicycle rodeo utilizes bicycle safety equipment (safety cones, bicycles, bicycle helmets, and other equipment) purchased through donations in order to make sure every child can participate in these activities. Any equipment left over is used during future Bicycle Rodeos.

If you would like to support bicycle rodeo program and wish to donate, checks can be made payable to the “WPD Youth Services Program.” The program’s Federal Tax ID number is 94-6000457. A receipt can be provided for tax purposes if requested. All money donated will go towards the program.

Press Release
Today’s Date: January 29, 2018
Submitted By: John P. Miller, Chief of Police
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Alert Residents Assist in Two Separate Incidents

Thanks to alert Winters residents, two separate incidents over the weekend resulted in the arrests of a total of three people for felony charges.

On Friday, January 26 at approximately 10:53 AM, a resident saw a male and female in and around a black 1996 Honda Accord parked in the 600 block of Foxglove Cir. The resident called the Winters Police Department after the subjects walked away and left the vehicle behind but provided a detailed description of both. Responding officers found that the Honda had been reported stolen from Woodland earlier in the day and an area check failed to locate the subjects.

At approximately 3:35 PM, Winters officers saw a male and female matching the description given earlier walking on Railroad Ave. near Grant Ave. Officers detained the subjects and the witness from earlier positively identified both subjects. Officers arrested Tony Deweese, Jr., 37-years-old, and Lizbeth Sandoval, 25-years-old, both residents of Woodland. Property belonging to the Honda’s owner was found in Deweese’s possession and property recovered from the Honda was identified as belonging to Deweese and Sandoval. Deweese and Sandoval were booked at Yolo County Jail for stealing the vehicle and being in possession of stolen property.

On Sunday, January 28 at approximately 9:29 PM, a resident reported to the Winters Police Department that a subject had entered their vehicle parked in the 20 block of E. Edwards St. The subject ran as soon as he saw the resident but the resident provided a detailed description of the subject. The resident advised their vehicle had been locked and officers determined the vehicle had been forcibly entered by “jimmying” the lock. The resident also found that $60 in cash had been taken from their belongings inside the vehicle.

Officers conducted follow-up and determined a possible suspect was Richard “Rick” Cooper, a 60-year-old transient living in his vehicle in Winters. The officers contacted Cooper, who was found to match the description of the subject and the resident subsequently positively identified Cooper. Unfortunately, the property was not recovered, but Cooper was arrested and booked in Yolo County Jail for vehicle burglary.

Making Winters a safe community is truly a partnership between the Winters Police Department and our residents. The successful outcome of both these incidents illustrates how critical it is for our residents to be alert, promptly report suspicious activity to their Police Department, and be willing to be involved in the investigation.

The Winters Police Department Dispatch Center can be reached 24/7 at 530-795-4561 or by dialing “9-1-1” in an emergency.

Sandoval

Deweese Jr.

Cooper

It’s every grandparent’s worst nightmare, a phone call with a panicky grandchild on the other end. “I’ve been arrested” they say “please don’t tell mom.” For one Winters resident this nightmare became reality. After being told of an arrest out of state, a grandmother was asked to provide $3,000.00 in Target gift cards to a lawyer over the phone. The money was supposed to go towards bond, instead the team of individuals working a “Hey Grandma” scam was able to take the money and run. It was only after calling to check on her family, the grandmother realized she had been scammed.

The “Hey Grandma” scam starts with a phone call. Scammers choose phone numbers at random, using telemarketing equipment and computer software to call hundreds of people a minute. Once they have a good phone number, they go to work and use the internet to associate the number to cities, addresses and names.  Scammers then use the information throughout the call to make the person believe they know the area and the person’s family.

The scam caller often disguises their voice and waits for the person they called to use a name. The caller then confirms it’s them and tells of an emergency (they were arrested or robbed) then passes the person to a lawyer or a friend who will explain everything. Even if the person picks up red flags (voices that don’t sound right, situations that seem to be off, or unusual methods of payment) the caller will explain them away then hustle the person onto the next step. If the person hesitates and mentions wanting to check with family members or law enforcement, the scammer will tell them there is no time or that they are embarrassed and want to break the situation to family members themselves.

Scam callers will then demand payment, sometimes staying on the phone with people to encourage or berate them to hurry. Often the scammers will demand payment using gift cards because gift cards don’t carry the same protections credit or debit cards do. Once a person has given the gift card number and access code to the scammer, the funds are instantly removed from the card, often with no recourse. Victims of scams are often angry and embarrassed they were fooled and consequently may decide not to report the incident to law enforcement. For the grandmother who experienced this scam first hand, it was more important to her to share her story in the hopes it might help others avoid becoming victims of the same scam.

Today’s Date: January 22, 2018
Submitted By: John P. Miller, Chief of Police
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Arrest Made in 2017 Berryessa Sporting Goods Burglary

On September 5, 2017, suspects broke the front door of the Berryessa Sporting Goods located at 115 E. Grant Ave. and stole approximately $600.00 in tobacco and alcohol products.
Although leads in the case were quickly developed, it took two months of diligent investigative work by Winters Police Department Cpl. Gordon Brown to positively identify one of the suspects. On January 20, 2018, Cpl. Brown arrested a 16-year-old Winters resident for partaking in the burglary. The juvenile was subsequently booked at Yolo County Juvenile Hall for burglary, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property. More arrests in the case are pending.

Cpl. Brown had been serving for the last three years in the School Resource Officer positon (SRO), but had been asked to focus on conducting more thorough follow-up and investigations that our Patrol Officers were unable to do, such as this burglary. Cpl. Brown rotated back to Patrol January 1, 2018, but based on the success of his efforts, and recognizing the pressing needs of our growing community, the SRO positon was reorganized into a full-time Detective position with ancillary SRO duties, the first for the Winters Police Department, and Ofc. David Gonzalez selected for the three year assignment.

Through the efforts of dedicated officers, such as Cpl. Brown and Det. Gonzalez, the Winters Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our residents. However, we cannot be successful without the assistance and support of our community. If you see suspicious activity, we encourage you to contact the Winters Police Department Dispatch at (530) 795-4561 or dial “911” if an emergency. You can also contact the Winters Police Department with anonymous tips at (530) 795-2261 or tips.winters@winterspolice.org.

*****
Winters Police Department
702 Main St.
Winters, CA 95694
(530) 795-2261

Today’s Date: January 19, 2018
Submitted By: John P. Miller, Chief of Police
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Assistance Requested to Identify Auto Burglary Suspect

As previously reported, the City of Winters has been experiencing a rash of thefts from unlocked vehicles and some auto burglaries. Although a small portion of these crimes involved forced entry into the vehicles, the vast majority of thefts occurred from unlocked vehicles. The thefts have occurred throughout town and a variety of items were taken from the vehicles. All appeared to be crimes of opportunity.

A resident provided a screenshot from their home security camera, which captured the image of a suspect who had just committed a theft from his neighbor’s unlocked vehicle on January 3, 2018 at 10:22PM. The location is being withheld to protect the source of the screenshot. The Winters Police Department is asking the community’s assistance in identifying this suspect. Any information can be sent anonymously to tips.winters@winterspolice.org or by calling 530-795-2261.

Until these offenders are caught, the Winters Police Department reminds residents that leaving vehicle unlocked and items visible in your vehicle provides an opportunity for thieves to enter your vehicle and take your possessions with little effort.

Always:
• Park in well-lighted area, if possible
• Lock your vehicle always and activate security system
• Never leave valuables, including firearms, in your vehicle
• Secure all items from view. If it can be seen, it can be stolen
• Report any suspicious activity to Winters Police at 530-795-4561 for non-emergency. Call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Always remembering to “REMOVE IT, LOCK IT, OR LOSE IT” reduces your chance of being the next victim.