Teen busted in fake ticket scam

16-year-old township resident allegedly placed fake traffic citations in neighbors’ mailboxes

WESTTOWN >> A 16-year-old suspect has been busted for attempting to scam residents by creating fake traffic citations or “Notice of Infraction” letters and then trying to collect, officials said.

In at least four cases in Pleasant Grove, Westtown, the teen allegedly placed fabricated letters in mailboxes informing neighbors that they were found speeding on East Pleasant Grove Road and a $96 fine was due.

On March 20, residents on Dodgson Road, Cockburn Drive and Lofting Lane were told to place cash in their mailbox and then send an email informing the teen that they had done so.

The letters contained a representation of the WEGO police seal and the name, “Westtown Township West Chester Police Department.”

Residents received a one-page notice in their mailbox informing them that a vehicle owned by the resident was captured speeding on camera.

This notice included a photograph of the resident’s vehicle along with the property owner’s last name and complete mailing address.

“The Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department does not send speeding violations in this format and does not collect cash for traffic violations,” according to a release issued by Det. Lt. William Cahill “The only violations handled through the mail would come from a Magisterial District Court, unless the violation is parking and an officer would leave a yellow ticket on the vehicle involved in the parking violation.”

The suspect allegedly went to great lengths to make the citations appear authentic.

“In each of the four cases, po-

lice have determined that the photograph of the victim’s vehicle was taken while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in the driveway at the residence,” according to the release.

The suspect’s father notified police that the fliers were printed at his home, after he was notified of the crime via the community notification system through the Chester County Department of Emergency Services Reverse 911 Program, which led to an arrest.

“The 16-year-old and his family are cooperating with police and the appropriate charges will be filed with the Chester County Juvenile Probation Department at the conclusion of the ongoing criminal investigation,” reads the release.

If you have received one of these violations, please contact the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department at 610-692-5100. A resident with home video surveillance that may have captured the offender is also urged to contact the police department with any available information.