VERGENNES — Vergennes police reported that an elderly Vergennes resident told them on Feb. 20 she was scammed out of $7,000 by a caller who claimed she had to act quickly because her bank account had been compromised. 

Police said the caller told the woman she had to authorize him to purchase $7,000 of gift cards, including to Target and GameStop, in order to secure her account. She told police that she complied. 

Police hope to be able to recover an amount of money they said the woman told them represented her life savings, and they reported the crime to the FBI’s Cyber Crime unit.

As always, police strongly recommend that citizens not share any personal information or funds with a caller on the phone or an emailer online. In a case like this one, they said those who receive such a phone call can reach out to their bank to see if there really is a problem before acting.

Or, police said, they can call a friend or a family member to seek advice first.

Between Feb. 20 and 26, Vergennes police also conducted three cruiser patrols, eight traffic stops and one VIN inspection; fingerprinted seven job applicants; responded to a false alarm; and:

On Feb. 20:

• Rounded up two loose dogs on West Main Street and returned them to their home.

• Went along with Vergennes Area Rescue Squad to an Alden Place condo to help VARS deal with an uncooperative elderly frequent caller. Both agencies later made a similar visit on Feb. 23. Police said they are working with Age Well and state officials in hopes of finding a more suitable home for the individual.

On Feb. 21 cited John Stokes, 53, of Ferrisburgh for driving under the influence of drugs and, because he was driving with a teen in the car, reckless endangerment and cruelty to a child. The citations came after a Monkton Road traffic stop triggered by a call reporting erratic driving. 

On Feb. 22 went to the Valley Vista rehab center at 1 Alden Place to check out a report of a suspicious person knocking on its windows, but found no one.

On Feb. 24 ticketed and ordered towed two cars left out on Main Street during a snowstorm in violation of the city’s wintertime overnight parking ban.

On Feb. 25:

• After being told a man had left a Main Street home in a distraught frame of mind, found him on South Water Street. Police said he declined counseling and returned home with his fiancé.

• Arrested state of Georgia resident Britney Stewart, 33, on two outstanding felony warrants for aggravated assault with a weapon and criminal damage to property. Police lodged Stewart at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility after discovering the warrants for her arrest following a traffic stop and confirming with Henry County, Ga., authorities they wished to extradite her.