Volunteer Charged With Embezzlement

Fairfax County police have charged a 25-year-old Chantilly woman working as a volunteer at “Celebrate Fairfax” with embezzlement. She is Varrie Butler of 43460 Katling Square. Police say she was tending a cash box at one of the entrance gates to the event on Sunday, June 9, between noon and 5 p.m., when management became suspicious and contacted police.

According to police, an investigation revealed that Butler had allegedly taken money from the proceeds of people who’d purchased tickets and hid it on her person. She cooperated with the authorities and all the money was recovered. Following her arrest, she was taken to the Adult Detention Center.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, text “TIP187” plus a message to CRIMES/274637 or call police at 703-691-2131.

Jewelry Theft Is Investigated

Fairfax County police are investigating a smash-and-grab theft at the Kay Jewelers at Fair Oaks Mall. Police responded there Monday, June 10, shortly before 8 p.m., for a report of a grand larceny.

During the preliminary investigation, officers determined that three men entered the store, smashed a glass case and removed an undisclosed amount of jewelry. There were customers in the store at the time, but no one was injured.

All three suspects were described as black and 25-30 years old. One was between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-8 inches, with a medium build and wearing a blue, hooded sweatshirt. The other two men were between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2 inches; one wore a dark, hooded sweatshirt and the other wore a white T-shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, text “TIP187” plus a message to CRIMES/274637 or call police at 703-691-2131.

Utility Bill Scam

City of Fairfax police have recently received reports from several city business establishments that they’ve been defrauded by people claiming they’re collecting overdue electric power bills. The businesses are contacted by telephone and told that their electric bill is overdue and their power will be shut off unless payment is made immediately.

The caller then instructs the business to purchase a money card and call back with the number. The card is cashed promptly and the business subsequently determines that its bill is not overdue and that the call didn’t come from the power company. Dominion Virginia Power advises that it never attempts to collect bills in this manner.

While the most recent victims of this scam in the City of Fairfax have been business establishments, there have been reports in the past of similar attempts being made to defraud residential customers.