Articles by Chuck Ledbetter

The Charlestown Police Department has recently received a few complaints regarding attempts to fraud individuals looking for homes to rent or sell.  The scam involves individuals posting ads on social media and sell websites; including Craigslist, claiming to be responsible for area homes already up for sale or rent.  These scammers are asking for a “good faith” down payment or “deposit to secure” a home of interest; before being able to see its interior.  The scammers collect the down payment or deposit, usually through electronic transfer methods, and are never hear from or able to be contacted again. Don’t fall prey to a scammer, always protect yourself and be extremely cautious when entertaining business deals. Never make business deals over the phone or internet, they are meant for in person. Never pay money to secure a deal before having a chance to physically and thoroughly inspect your purchase. Never provide…

The Charlestown Police Department’s OPERATION IDENTIFY is a Crime Prevention initiative that serves more than one purpose in preserving personal property.  Using the easy steps of Operation Identify, property owners can take proper inventory of valuable items and not only be better prepared to help law enforcement get valuables back if ever the unfortunate victim of crime; but also if becoming a victim of a natural disaster or accident, having an inventory can allow you to file insurance claims for your items quicker. A Operation Identify property record involves documenting on one form, the manufacturer make, model, and serial number of valuable personal property around the home; placing engraving an ID or serial number on valuable items that do not bear a serial number.  Completing an Operation Identify property inventory is also a great time to video your personal property in each room and take a photograph of the valued property…..especially…

Unfortunately, in this day and age, it is important for citizens to consider what to do in the event of finding them self and/or family members in danger because of the presence of an active shooter situation.  The Charlestown Police Department agrees and provides the following information and resources; currently promoted by several national law enforcement agencies, including our own Indiana State Police. “Run Hide Fight,” of which the US Department of Homeland Security also advises is the proper response sequence to an active-shooter situation; is a quick phrase and way to remember what to do in an active-shooter situation, in order:  RUN if you can.  If you’re stuck, HIDE (also referred to as “sheltering in place”).  If the shooter finds you, then FIGHT — with whatever you can (from hot coffee to pens). For additional information and resources on this topic, visit the Indiana State Police website section dedicated to Active Shooter Preparedness;…

The Charlestown Police Department has recently received complaints from individuals experiencing a new type of phone scam being attempted by perpetrators in the Louisville Metro area.  The scam involves receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to represent a local utility company, such as Duke Energy.  The scammer calls on the pretense that the citizen’s account is in danger of being frozen and service disconnected as a result of being delinquent.  The scammer asks for credit card or banking information over the phone immediately; to process any type of payment on the account to avoid a disconnect.  This type of situation is normally a scam, and can catch unsuspecting citizens off guard with panic over the thought of not having a daily necessity such as a power utility. Citizens who receive such a phone call should not give any personal or financial information out over the phone until the…

The Charlestown Police Department has received several complaints from area citizens about “convincing” phone calls and phone messages from the “IRS”; in attempt to panic citizens into thinking they owe taxes to the government and are about to be arrested by local police.  THESE CALLS ARE AN ATTEMPT TO SCAM FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM CITIZENS.   FACTS TO REMEMBER: The genuine US Government IRS agency does not collect money over the phone, and will always communicate with tax payers via mailed documents.  The recent SCAM calls, claiming to be investigators of the Internal Revenue Service; have gone so far as to claim that recent mailed documents from the IRS to you have been ignored, requiring immediate action to avoid being arrested by local police.  AGAIN THIS IS A SCAM TECHNIQUE, as such a situation would never be handled by the genuine US Government IRS agency in this manner. Anyone receiving phone…