Police Investigate Attempted Home Invasion, Warn Residents of Credit Card Scam

The following is a roundup of recent reports:

Police believe alleged home invader fled when alarm went off

Officers are searching for suspects in what they believe to be an attempted home invasion. According to police reports, police were dispatched to a home on the 400 block of West Frank Street around 11:55 a.m. Wednesday for a burglary alarm. When officers arrived, they found the entry door to the garage was damaged and the door from the garage to the home had been forced open.

Police believe the intruder or intruders fled the area when the alarm was activated and did not enter the home. The homeowner reported nothing missing though said they had seen a suspicious white van in the area earlier that week.

Boy alleges assault by teen on St. Patrick's Day

A boy is claiming he was assaulted outside of around midnight on St. Patrick's Day after he and a friend were heckled by a large group of teenagers.

According to police reports, two boys said they were leaving Leo's Coney Island around 11:50 p.m. on March 17 when they were approached by 10 to 15 teenagers who started yelling at them. One of the boys was struck in the head by someone in the group, police reports state. The boy reported that he grabbed whomever he thought hit him when a van pulled up and two more teenagers joined the group.

At that point, reports state the boys ran away and called police. Officers checking the area said they saw a large group of teenagers running away from the area around midnight. Two of the teenagers were detained and taken into custody for curfew violation; they were later turned over to their parents. Detectives continue to investigate for possible suspects in the assault.

Credit card scam involves caller claiming to be from Microsoft, police say

Police are asking residents to be aware of a credit card scam after a Birmingham man gave up his credit card information after someone called claiming they were from Microsoft.

According to police reports, the incident happened on March 12 to a resident on the 1900 block of Graefield. The caller claimed he was from Microsoft and said the company had determined his computer was infected with a virus. The caller had full information on the man, including his full name and date of birth. The caller said he needed a credit card number to charge for removing the virus.

After the man gave up his credit card number, he called Microsoft, who said they do not call people and solicit services. The man was also told, police reports state, that this was a known scam. The man's credit card, he later noticed, was charged from India.

Cash taken from unlocked car; rock salt and washer fluid goes missing from gas station

Police are looking for suspects after a car was broken into overnight Monday on the 700 block of Lakeside. The car was unlocked and in the homeowner's driveway. The only thing missing from the car, reports state, was $24 in change.

Police are also investigating a theft from the at the corner of Maple and Adams. According to reports, the incident occurred overnight on March 16. The suspect or suspects took several bags of rock salt, three bottles of washer fluid and a broom from the rear of the building.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents may call the Birmingham Police Department at 248-530-1889. If you have any questions about this report, email Laura.Houser@Patch.com