By DUI collisions down this year
The number of injury accidents caused by drunken drivers was down compared to last year during the first weekend of the “Avoid the 13″ anti-drinking campaign, which began Dec. 15.
There were seven reported alcohol-related crashes over the campaign’s first weekend compared to 11 during the same period last year, according to police.
The number of arrests at the 15 checkpoints remained virtually the same as last year. Police arrested 408 drivers this year compared to 413 last year. Police in Santa Clara County made 183 of the arrests.
The police crackdown will continue until midnight, Jan. 2.
Los Altos
City honors couple who thwarted rape attempt
The Los Altos City Council presented a “Good Samaritan Award” last month to the Los Altos couple who helped stop an attempted rape in front of their Springer Road home last October.
Tom Nelson called police Oct. 23 after his wife Heromina “Roni” heard a woman screaming from a gray van parked in front of their house.
Los Altos police credited the alert neighbors for saving the woman from what could have been the first reported random rape in Los Altos. Because of their prompt response, police were able to rescue the woman.
Los Altos
Resident claims artist scammed her
Peninsula
One local woman’s gesture to help a struggling artist in town ended in possible fraud earlier this month. Los Altos resident Sarah Robinson said a girl posing as an Israeli student was peddling artwork door-to-door in downtown Los Altos the week of Dec.4, telling potential buyers that she was raising money to open an art gallery. Robinson said she purchased some artwork, only to discover later that it was over-priced and “worthless.”
Robinson said she and her husband read about a similar scam in Boston involving Israeli students raising money to open an art gallery. The students typically have lots of details about the artists and their techniques. The students allegedly sell cheaply imitated artwork at inflated prices, according to the Robinsons.
Los Altos police said they were unaware of such a scam.
The city requires that all persons obtain a permit before selling anything door-to-door.
- Linda Taaffe
