Crime log: Craigslist rip-off, mailbox vandalism

Information gathered from local police reportsAug. 15A citizen reported a suspicious man approaching customers asking them for money and a ride at the Creekside Shopping Center. When officers responded, the man allegedly changed his shirt, ran off and left some bags of property abandoned. The officer watched the bags of property until the man came back to retrieve them. Christopher Daniel Fox, 25, of Placerville, was arrested for possession of stolen property and parole violation. The items in the suspect's bag, including a wedding ring that was given to a victim by the victim's late husband, were linked to a recent residential burglary in Elk Grove. A woman from out of the area agreed to meet a stranger at a gas station in the 1800 block of Taylor Road around 6 p.m. to sell him a notebook computer she had listed for sale on Craigslist. When they met, instead of paying her, the prospective buyer grabbed the computer from her and drove away. The suspect is described as a dark-complexioned white male (possibly middle-Eastern), 17 to 18 years old, who got into a waiting silver sedan driven by another man.An unknown suspect or suspects stripped copper wiring from the lights at Veteran's Memorial Park on Crocker Ranch Road.Aug. 18A Roseville resident received a call from an unknown person around 7 a.m. threatening to burn the house down if the resident didn't give the caller $200. The resident didn't have any idea who the caller was. The resident was asked to notify police of any further such calls.Aug. 20At least two clusters of mailboxes were broken into around 1 a.m. in the 5200 block of Weston Way. Less than two hours later, thieves also broke into a cluster of mailboxes and stole mail on Cassidy Court, Lorimer Drive, Revere Drive and Longview Drive. In both instances, a red compact sedan with a loud exhaust was seen near the crimes. Roseville police investigated, but no arrests have been made.~ Staff report