Police Briefs: Grandmother Says Caller Swindled Her Out of $3,500

A 79-year-old Brighton Township woman says she was tricked out of $3,500 by a phone caller claiming to be her grandson in need of money in Mexico, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

When she answered the phone during the April 18 incident, the caller asked: "Which one of your grandsons is this?" She replied with a name that the man claimed to be. The man then said he needed money and was in Mexico City, a police report said.

After hanging up, the woman attempted to call her grandson, but after not reaching him she told police she went to a nearby drug store and wired the money via Western Union. When she returned, her grandson contacted her to say it wasn't him who called, the report said.

Western Union told police the money wasn't traceable and could be picked up at any of its locations.

Hartland man reports RV robbed

A 68-year-old Hartland man says more than $500 in items, including a compass, GPS and a television, were stolen from his RV parked at his home in the 12100 block of Countryside Drive, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The man told police he found the items missing when he went to clean out the vehicle on April 23, a police report said. He said the vehicle had been locked and there was no sign of forced entry, the report said. The incident took place sometime between April 15-23, a report said.

More than $1,800 wracked up on phones in Tyrone Township man's name

A 63-year-old Tyrone Township man reported to police that four phones and more than $1,800 in charges were wracked up fraudulently in his name, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The man spoke to police on April 19 after a collection company contacted him about the charges. He said the accounts were at an address with which he has no ties — Morang Drive in Detroit.

Purse taken from unlocked vehicle in daycare lot

A 22-year-old Howell woman says her Coach purse was stolen from her unlocked car while she visited in Oceola Township, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The incident occurred at about 7 a.m. April 19, a police report said. The purse and the items inside were worth more than $400, the report said. Some of the woman's items were found at Brophy and Eager roads and returned, the report said.