- Home
- Services
- Police Department
- Divisions
- Investigations
Investigations
The Investigation Division is responsible for investigating cases reported through the Patrol Division. Some of the crimes investigated include thefts, home and auto burglaries, identity theft, crimes against children, and sexual assaults. The goal is to arrest the person(s) responsible for the alleged crime. In addition, the Investigations Division works closely with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to assist in the prosecution of the investigated cases.
Identity Theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number or other information enabling the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud. This may include, taking over the victim's financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, renting apartments, applying for loans, credit cards, social security benefits, or establishing services with utility companies. As part of Crime Prevention Month, the Wickenburg Police Department recommends you take the following steps to prevent ID theft.
Preventive Actions
If you have any checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the following companies:
Preventive Actions
- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
- Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office.
- Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
- Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information you don't want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin.
- Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
- Order your credit report from the 3 credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
- Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps.
- Memorize your social security number and all of your passwords. Do not keep them in your wallet or purse.
- Sign all credit cards upon receipt.
- Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
- Be conscious of normal receipt of routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.
- Notify your credit card companies and financial institution in advance of any change of address or phone number.
- Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.
- Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a post card or on the outside of an envelope.
- If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
- Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards. Contact the credit card issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration date.
- Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.
- Balance your checkbook on a monthly basis for possible fraudulent charges on your debit card number. The bank limits the time period in which complaints can be filed and you are reimbursed for fraudulent charges.
- Set up a folder to keep a detailed history of this crime.
- Keep a log of any contacts you make and make copies of all documents.
- Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with: US Postal Inspection Service (410-715-7700)
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the problem. The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. The FTC helps victims by providing information to help resolve financial and other problems that could result from identity theft. 1-877-IDTHEFT(438-4338) (Website)
- Alert your banks to flag your account and contact you to confirm any unusual activity.
- Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (Website)
- Contact the Motor Vehicle Administration to see if another license was issued in your name. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.
- Obtain description of suspect (if known). Obtain witness information
- Determine your financial loss. Attach all supporting documentation.
- Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing to inform them of the problems.
- Call each of the 3 credit bureaus' fraud units to report the identity theft, (follow up with a letter). Ask to have a "Fraud Alert / Victim Impact: statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call you before opening any new account. Request that a copy of your credit report be sent to you.
If you have any checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the following companies:
- Certegy Check Services: 1-800-770-3792 (Website)
- CheckRite- 800-766-2748
- Chexsystems: 800-428-9623
- Cross Check: 800-552-1900
- National Processing Co: 800-526-5380
- Shared Check Authorization Network 800-262-7771
- TeleCheck- 800-710-9898 (Website)
- National Check Fraud Hotline: 843-571-2143
Equifax
PO Box 74021
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To order your report, call 1-800-685-1111
To report Fraud, call 1-800-525-6285
Trans Union
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
To order your report, call 1-800-916-8800
To report Fraud, call 1-800-680-7289
Experian
PO Box 949
Allen, TX 75013-0949
To order your report, call 1-888-397-3742
To report Fraud, call 1-888-397-3742
Internet safety for children is a growing concern. Too often we hear of stories where a child or teenager meets an adult stranger via the Internet. It is estimated that there are around 20,000 pedophiles online worldwide, entering chat rooms and preying on vulnerable minors. The Internet pedophile hopes to establish a relationship with that child or teenager. Often times the Internet pedophiles exploit these victims into child pornography or the teenagers themselves are sexually exploited.
The Wickenburg Police Department would like to make sure parents have the tools to prevent this from happening to their children. One of the best methods is to instruct children on the benefits and dangers of being online. We need to teach our children how to be smart and safe to prevent them from being exposed to a dangerous situation. Many ISP's (Internet Service Providers) provide the option of limiting the exposure of children to pornographic sites, chat rooms, and message boards. Some have filtering features that only allow children to access websites that are appropriate for children. As a parent, you should keep track of what your child is downloading from the Internet. Although children need some privacy, parental supervision and involvement is the main key to preventing them from being exploited via the Internet.
Other Information on Internet Crime
The Wickenburg Police Department would like to make sure parents have the tools to prevent this from happening to their children. One of the best methods is to instruct children on the benefits and dangers of being online. We need to teach our children how to be smart and safe to prevent them from being exposed to a dangerous situation. Many ISP's (Internet Service Providers) provide the option of limiting the exposure of children to pornographic sites, chat rooms, and message boards. Some have filtering features that only allow children to access websites that are appropriate for children. As a parent, you should keep track of what your child is downloading from the Internet. Although children need some privacy, parental supervision and involvement is the main key to preventing them from being exploited via the Internet.
Other Information on Internet Crime
- To report suspected child pornography or sexual predators, contact The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- To report internet fraud contact the Internet Fraud Complaint Center
- Tips for protecting children on-line visit Get Net Wise or Net Smartz
- Protecting children on the internet from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Arizona registered sex offenders
There are 3 instances when property is placed into the property room of the Wickenburg Police Department.
In addition, before property collected as evidence can be released, the case must be adjudicated. This means the Wickenburg Police Department must receive written notification from the Court or county Attorney advising the court case is concluded and the evidence may be returned to the owner. In instances where the owner has specific need for the evidence prior to adjudication, written authorization for release from the WPD investigating officer or county Attorney is required. Contact the appropriate individual in this instance for the authorization, not the Wickenburg Police Department. The following property is never released back to the owner / finder:
For further information please call the Property Room Manager 928-684-5411
1. The first instance is when such property is taken for found property which includes property that is found and the owner is not known or cannot be located.
2.Second instance is safekeeping. This includes property where the owner is known but they cannot continue to keep possession of the property. Examples would include property that is:
3.The 3rd instance is when it is evidence in an investigation. In order to recover property which has been placed into the evidence room, a person must:
- Valuable / sensitive found at medical or crime scenes.
- Acquired during court order (except search warrant).
- Prohibited/not taken by the jail when a person is arrested and booked.
- Be the owner of the property, provide written authorization from the owner to pick up the property or must have a claim to the property.
- Call the Property Room Manager at 928-684-5411 and arrange an appointment.
- Provide valid identification, with a picture, when picking up the property (valid state-issued driver license or identification card, passport, or military identification card).
- Provide the case number; be able to provide information as to the date/time the property could have been acquired and a description of items.
In addition, before property collected as evidence can be released, the case must be adjudicated. This means the Wickenburg Police Department must receive written notification from the Court or county Attorney advising the court case is concluded and the evidence may be returned to the owner. In instances where the owner has specific need for the evidence prior to adjudication, written authorization for release from the WPD investigating officer or county Attorney is required. Contact the appropriate individual in this instance for the authorization, not the Wickenburg Police Department. The following property is never released back to the owner / finder:
- Drug paraphernalia
- Contraband weapons and weapons to individuals prohibited by the court to possess them.
For further information please call the Property Room Manager 928-684-5411