Published in the May 27, 2016 edition

MELROSE — Earlier this week, Police Chief Michael L. Lyle and others hosted a community meeting where a panel talked about popular scams that often affect seniors.

They include an IRS scam, grandparent scam, lottery scam, computer phishing scam and utility scam.

“Our community is not immune to the various scams out there today and we certainly want our residents to be aware so they can avoid becoming a victim,” Lyle said.

That’s for sure.

On Friday, May 20, calls flooded police dispatchers reporting unsuccessful IRS scam attempts. It involves someone falsely claiming to be from the IRS calling and demanding information.

Luckily, in every single case, no personal information was given.

The first call came at 9:54 a.m., followed by one at 10:01 a.m. The next came at 10:23 a.m., followed by another at 11:28 a.m., then 11:29 a.m., then 1:54 p.m. and finally one at 2 p.m.

Representatives from the IRS have said the agency never calls people who owe the government money on the phone or contacts them via computer.

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Police and the U.S. Treasury Department continue to investigate the passing of $500 worth of bogus $20 bills at the local Rite Aid on May 20.

According to a report, a young African American man entered the store around 4:30 p.m. and purchased a $500 music gift card with $20 bills. It wasn’t long before a store manager looked in the cash register and realized the 20s were all fake.

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On Monday, May 16, three bicycles valued at a total of $1,500 were reported stolen from inside a vinyl storage shed on Linwood Avenue.

The thefts were reported at 10:07 a.m.

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A Sylvan Street resident reported May 16 just before 4 p.m. that someone had been inside her apartment and moved some items around.

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A 50-year-old West Emerson Street woman will be summonsed to court for operating after suspension of both her license and registration Tuesday, May 17.

She was reportedly driving a gray Honda Accord around 11:15 a.m. on West Emerson Street near the Melrose Community Garage, where workers were painting lines in a parking lot. Witnesses said the woman hit a stone wall and several other objects. They believed she was in medical distress.

Her license had been previously revoked because she was considered an habitual traffic offender.

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Following are examples of other calls police responded to between Monday, May 16 and Sunday, May 22.

MONDAY, MAY 16

• A tree limb was reported down at the intersection of Clifford and Howard streets at 7:51 a.m. It damaged three transformers. National Grid workers were called.

• Something was reported burning in front of a West Emerson Street home around 12:35 p.m. Whatever it was extinguished, police reported.

• A golf cart was reported taken from Pine Banks Park and then returned sometime around 4 p.m.

• Police were told someone was trying to break into a Lynde Street home around 7:25 p.m. It turned out to be a relative of the homeowner.

TUESDAY, MAY 17

• A vehicle was reported running at Melrose High around 1:10 a.m. Police found that it was someone delivering electrical equipment.

• Police were unable to find a possibly intoxicated man reported on Franklin Street around 2 p.m.

• A Sewall Woods Road resident reported a case of fraud around 4:20 p.m.

• A motorist told police around 11:35 p.m. that he was run off the road at the intersection of Franklin and Greenwood streets by another driver.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

• A patrolman noticed a strange-acting raccoon on Forest Street around 7:05 a.m. Animal Control was notified.

• Police received a 911 call around 12:15 p.m. that someone was slumped over in a silver SUV near the back lot of 890 Main St. The man was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

• A woman fell and injured her wrist at the Cefalo Apartments on West Wyoming Avenue around 1:05 p.m.

• An elderly man was reported hitchhiking at the Grove and Lebanon streets intersection at 2:52 p.m.

• An elderly man fell on Lebanon Street sometime before 3:38 p.m. and was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

• A strong odor of natural gas was reported at 7:59 p.m. at a Stone Place apartment building. Firefighters responded.

THURSDAY, MAY 19

• A dog on Apple Hill was reported barking at 1:27 a.m.

• Youths were reportedly trespassing at the Hoover School around 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 20

• A large excavator reportedly damaged the road surface as it drove down Wentworth Road around 8:55 a.m.

• A lawn mower was reported stolen at 11:05 a.m. from a Birch Hill Road home.

• A Cleveland Street resident told police at 3:10 p.m. she believed her license and credit cards had been stolen.

• Youths were reportedly ringing door bells around 11:25 in the Ardsmoor Road and Porter Street area, and then fleeing before the doors were answered.

SATURDAY, MAY 21

• A public works crew working on Boardman Avenue around 8:15 a.m. reported detecting an odor of gas. National Grid was notified.

• An elderly woman reportedly got out of a car at a red light at the corner of Main and East Foster streets at 8:30 a.m. and then walked away. Police searched the area for her.

• A motorcycle was reportedly being operated at the Knoll around 10:35 a.m.

• At 1:54 p.m., a Lynn Fells Parkway woman said her landlord touched her inappropriately the previous day.

• A loud party was reported on Tremont Street around 9:25 p.m. Music was turned down.

• A Geneva Road resident reported a water problem at 10:15 p.m.

• Youths were reportedly ringing doorbells on Cranmore Lane around 10:20 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

• A 20-year-old Saugus man was arrested around 2:10 a.m. following a motor vehicle stop at the corner of Upham Street and Bellevue Avenue. Sean Charles Schilpp, 47 Chestnut St., was charged with operating a vehicle after his license had been suspended, possession of a Class B drug and carrying a dangerous weapon.