Greene County SALT - NEWS

Victim Center Volunteering

2011-08-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Victim Center in Springfield, Missouri, is now accepting applications from community volunteers to assist victims of violent crime and their families.

Victim advocates are on call approximately twice a month, at nights or on weekends and holidays to respond to 864-SAFE hotline phone calls from crime victims or calls from local health-care and law enforcement agencies. Although most calls require only telephone response, advocates are also summoned to local hospitals and crime scenes to assist crime victims.

The next training is scheduled for Friday evening, October 7^th and the day of Saturday, October 8^th.

Applications for training and information are available from Paula Tindell, Victim Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator, at 863-0827, #106. Interviews and background checks on all applicants will be completed prior to acceptance. All applicants must be at least twenty-one years old.

Unique in the nation because all services are free of charge, The Victim Center is a

United Way

non-profit agency that offers crisis interventions 24 hours a day, counseling and advocacy services to child, adolescent and adult victims of sexual and other violent crimes. Comprehensive education programs to prevent violent crimes are extended to area schools, businesses and community organizations.

Springfield Prison Scam

2011-04-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE BY THE SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
APRIL 4TH, 2011

Recently, officers have been contacted regarding incidents in the city where the elderly are contacted regarding a family member who has been "confined" in another location while on a trip to that country. The countries listed have included Mexico and Spain and the contacts have told family members that a loved one was in jail for various offenses and needed money sent to them via Western Union to release them from jail.

The contacts have used family names creating some sense of credibility, however any further contact information has come back invalid.

The SPD would like to warn the general public, but specifically the elderly, who seem to be the targets of this scam to not send any money to outside sources claiming to be an official from another police department or other entity condcuting business in that country. If contacted, make every effort to confirm with other family members the validity of the claim and phone the police department at 864-1810 to file a report.

Media Contact: Cpl. Matt Brown, phone:417-864-1786

Springfield Roof Scammers are Likely 'Gypsies' from Jasper County

2010-11-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

Springfield Roof Scammers are Likely 'Gypsies' from Jasper County

Barry, Lawrence, and Jasper Counties have dealt with the criminals for years

November 23, 2010|by Doug Magditch, KSPR News | dmagditch@kspr.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —

A group of 'gypsies' is targeting elderly people in southwest Missouri. They're pretending to be roofers, as a way to get inside people's homes.

They leave without doing any work, and often, steal purses and checkbooks.

Monday, Springfield police issued a warning: people need to be on the lookout for three men, driving a white truck, pretending to be roofers.

It looks like Springfield wasn't their first stop.

"He says, 'have you got a ladder?' I thought, 'that's strange, a roofer without a ladder?'" says Will Binge.

Will and Betty Binge are just one of many scammed by a group, calling themselves 'gypsies.'

"They were well-organized," says Will Binge.

Earlier this month, police say Joseph Spry, along with two others, struck a home in Purdy, Mo.

Spry claimed he had worked on the roof, and needed to do a warranty check. The homeowner, an elderly woman, asked the three men to leave.

They left, but not without her purse.

Later, a camera at the First State Bank in Monett, Mo. spotted the men's white pickup outside. Spry was inside, cashing a $2,800 check from the woman's checkbook.

He was arrested, and told police he is part of an organization of 'gypsies' based in Jasper County.

He bonded out of jail November 12th. Later that same day, the Binges say, he showed up at their house. He came in a white truck, with two other men.

We showed Will Binge a photo of Spry, and he recognized him immediately.

"That's him. That's the guy that had the hat on. I'd recognize those eyes anywhere," says Binge.

The Binges say the three men ran the same scam on them.

"Generally the same format," says Will Binge.

"It's almost always the elderly in some fashion," says Matt Brown, Public Affairs Officer for the Springfield Police Department.

The men stole Betty Binge's purse.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office says it has been dealing with the group of 'gypsies' for years. Now, the thieves are, likely, branching out to new areas.

"Believe me, they don't want to come back here," says Will Binge.

Spry is back in jail on new forgery charges.

Police are looking for the other two suspects. They're driving a white, extended cab, Chevrolet pickup truck, with Missouri plates.

SPD is investigating the connection between Spry and the Springfield thefts. As of Tuesday, he is not charged for the scam in Springfield.