Credit Card

JERRY LANE Last December everyone in California was able to request free copies of their credit reports from the three major credit reporting companies. We were told that it was a good idea to inspect our credit reports to make sure that no erroneous information had been entered. Since our credit union records had been accessed illegally last year and we had been advised to watch our accounts carefully, we decided to ask for a copy of our report. There weren't any surprises in the report that I received.

Jackson Bell Now that the holiday shopping season has officially started, Glendale Police are encouraging residents to better protect themselves against the seasonal jump in financial crimes. Glendale residents and shoppers should be vigilant since the city's rate of credit card fraud and identification theft exceeds that of the averages for the state and Los Angeles and Riverside counties, Sgt. Todd Stokes said. Financial crime rates are even higher here than such regional cities as San Diego and Phoenix, said Stokes, who heads the department's financial crimes detail.

SigAlert called for motorcycle crash NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- A motorcyclist walked away Tuesday with a broken finger after being pummeled between two cars and going down on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway, just south of Western Avenue. A car in the left lane lost control and struck the motorcyclist about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Bell said. The motorcycle then lost control and hit another car, then went down in the right lane.

The following incidents were taken from reports at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station: LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE 749 Foothill Blvd.: A Glendale man reported Feb. 1 that someone stole his wallet, which contained $150, from the ATM counter at Washington Mutual. 4463 Oak Grove Drive.: A La Canada Flintridge woman reported Jan. 31 that someone entered her locked Honda Civic and stole a $400 purse containing $150 in cash. 4300 block of Ocean View Boulevard: A La Canada Flintridge man reported Jan. 31 that someone used his personal information to make several purchases on his credit card.

Once upon a time, a hotel advertised itself as "a home away from home." Do you remember that, or am I making up a memory? I seem to remember that they wanted to do everything they could to make your stay comfortable from start to finish. I wonder when that changed. Today when you make a reservation at a motel or hotel, you must give your credit-card number. No one will reserve a room without that all-important identification. Do you know why that is? It's because that establishment is going to bill your card immediately, even though it may be a month or more before you arrive.

Darleene Barrientos An Arizona man was released on $20,000 bail Tuesday after Glendale Police arrested him on suspicion of trying to dupe residents with a product he claimed would heal their aches and pains. Thorsten Wietschel, 45, was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony grand theft and felony commercial burglary after holding several seminars from Carlsbad to Glendale, advertising magnetic mattress pads he claimed would heal cancer, arthritis and other ailments common to people as they get older, Glendale Police Investigator John Genna said.

School-vending initiative unveiled GLENDALE -- Nestle USA has introduced an initiative that would have its vending machines in schools nationwide. Nestle USA is based in Glendale. The Nesquick Milk Vending Initiative would provide campuses with machines that would carry Nesquick's flavored milks. The program would provide a beverage alternative to regular school-vending choices such as water, milk and other beverages, officials said. New travel software program touted MONTROSE -- A new software program designed to provide more detailed travel data on corporate credit-card purchases for travel has been created by Montrose Travel.

Darleene Barrientos Police are warning the public of an increase of thefts from lockers and benches at the Brand Boulevard 24 Hour Fitness health club. Police officials say they have no leads about why incidents of theft have risen at the 240 N. Brand Blvd. location. "It's been an ongoing problem at the location," said Sgt. Ernie Garcia of the burglary division. "Over the last two months, there's been at least two incidents a week." A request for comment from the 24 Hour Fitness location was transferred to the club's public-relations firm, Ketchum P.R. in San Francisco, which released a statement.

Ben Godar A Pizza Hut delivery driver asking for a credit card Thursday was shown a gun instead, police say. The incident occurred about 2:40 p.m. at an apartment in the 400 block of West Colorado Street, police reports said. A man inside the apartment had placed an order using a credit card. When the driver asked the man to produce the card, the man became irate and displayed what the driver believed to be a revolver. The driver left the scene and called police.

That would be hate mail he could live with So, the good-old-boy descendant of Robert E. Lee finds my hostility toward his ancestor to be frightening. Next thing you know, I will be getting hate mail from Hitler's grandson. CREIGHTON THOMAS HARRIS Burbank She's a cash-and-carry resident -- for now I read with interest the article last week stating what a safe city Glendale is. The day before, a good friend of mine had a call from his bank to ask him about a large purchase made with his credit card.