SANTA ANA, Ca. (Mar. 26, 2018) – Beginning today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will make publicly available inmate release dates through the existing “Who’s in Jail” online database. This action will enhance communication between the Sheriff’s Department and our law enforcement partners to remove dangerous offenders from our community.

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Scam Smart: Selling Items Online

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is warning citizens of an internet scam targeting people looking to sell items online through sites such as Craigslist, Let Go, Offer Up or Close 5.

Here’s how it works:

• A bogus buyer reaches out to the seller with a phone call, email or text expressing interest in the for-sale item.
• The bogus buyer then explains they can’t pick up the item for one reason or another, but not to worry – they’ll arrange for movers to come and pick up the merchandise.
• The buyer cuts a check and adds a significant monetary bonus to cover the cost of the movers.
• The buyer then advises the seller to cash the check and wire the extra funds to the mover.
• The trusting seller does as advised, never to hear from the buyer again.

After a survey of their bank account, the seller soon realizes they were duped out of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars because that check was fraudulent and so were the movers they shipped the money to.

The best way to avoid this scam: Be a prudent seller. If an online transaction involves a check, cash it first and make sure it clears before sending any money or before parting with the item you are selling.

A 22-year-old man was arrested after attempting to defraud a rental car company Sunday night.

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies at about 6 p.m. on March 11 responded to the Avis car rental desk stationed at John Wayne Airport after a manager reported a male suspect attempted to rent a Range Rover with what appeared to be invalid identification and credits cards.

After an investigation, deputies arrested the 22-year-old on suspicion of felony burglary, forgery and attempted grand theft auto.

We’re thankful the manager of Avis noticed something amiss and contacted the department immediately. His swift action led to a quick arrest.  

Remember: If you see something, say something. Call our dispatch line to report any suspicious behavior or activity:
714-647-7000

The Orange County Sheriff's Department Traffic Division will hold a DUI checkpoint in Mission Viejo on Friday.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 6, 2018) - On Monday, March 5, 2018, Orange County Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators initiated an investigation following an incident inside a residence in the 13400 block on Winthrope Street in unincorporated Santa Ana.

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The Orange County Sheriff's Department Traffic Division will target distracted drivers with a targeted enforcement this Monday.

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The Orange County Sheriff's Department Traffic Division will slate added enforcement to target distracted drivers in Mission Viejo on Friday.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department Traffic Division will target distracted drivers with enhanced patrol efforts on Friday.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 26, 2018) - As of 2 p.m. today, all individuals encamped along the Santa Ana River Trail in the project area between Ball Road in the city of Anaheim and Memory Lane in the city of Orange have voluntarily complied with the request to relocate. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will now actively enforce state trespass laws and will maintain high visibility patrols in the area. This active enforcement of trespass laws will enable the County to complete the environmental remediation project and restore the area to its intended purpose.

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The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Division made a dozen arrests and issued my than 40 traffic citations in an overnight checkpoint in Aliso Viejo Friday, Feb. 9.

More than 700 cars were screened at the DUI Checkpoint set up at Aliso Creek Road near Park Plaza from Friday night through the early morning hours on Saturday.

Three drivers were given field sobriety tests, and two DUI arrests were made. Nine other drivers were arrested for license violations, including eight unlicensed drivers and one driving on a suspended license.

Forty-four traffic citations also were issued as part of the checkpoint effort.

A grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety allows the Sheriff’s Department to host various checkpoints throughout the year.

While pulling impaired and unlicensed drivers off the road to keep the community safe remains one goal of these checkpoints, they also serve to educate the public on the dangers of drunken or drugged driving.

High-visibility enforcement using both checkpoints and saturation patrols have proven to lower the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug-related crashes.  Research shows that crashes involving an impaired driver can be reduced by up to 20 percent when well-publicized, proactive DUI checkpoints are routinely conducted.