It turns out a resident who claimed to police she had been
robbed at gunpoint Tuesday made up the story because she feared
repurcussions after handing over money to scam artists, a Hollister
police captain said today. The woman Tuesday morning reported that
an unknown male and female forced their way into a residence on the
800 block of Fourth Street after brandishing a gun and that they
stole money and jewelry before escaping.
It turns out a resident who claimed to police she had been robbed at gunpoint Tuesday made up the story because she feared repurcussions after handing over money to scam artists, a Hollister police captain said today.
The woman Tuesday morning reported that an unknown male and female forced their way into a residence on the 800 block of Fourth Street after brandishing a gun and that they stole money and jewelry before escaping.
She has confessed to police, however, that she had willfully given money to a man and woman after taking them to her bank and retrieving it for them, Capt. Carlos Reynoso said.
“What we’re hearing now is that the whole thing about guns and being a home invasion was a story she made up to cover up the fact that she might have fallen for one of these lottery scams,” Reynoso said.
Reynoso explained that the woman met the two apparent scam artists “someplace else” before withdrawing the money. Police have not released the amount, but they plan to pass on that and other details in a press release shortly, Reynoso said.
“It could happen to anybody,” he said. “These people are con artists. They are very convincing.”
Police likely will not arrest the woman for making up the story to police, leaving it up to prosecutors to decide on possible charges when they receive a report on the incident, he said.
“Even though we don’t make an arrest, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t face charges,” Reynoso said.
As for the story to police, Reynoso said she “obviously committed a crime by making a false police report.”
She reported to police – some officers had rifles drawn when they arrived – that the duo came to the residence Tuesday morning, knocked on the door and talked to the resident about buying Bibles. The homeowner reported to police she told them she wasn’t interested, and that one of the two pulled out a handgun and demanded to come inside. Once inside, she had claimed the duo demanded cash and jewelry from the resident, police reported. She even described them as fleeing in a silver blue or silver green full-sized van.
