Authorities have apprehended a 51-year-old New York woman named Priya Pooran on charges of theft by false pretense after a series of incidents in mountain communities. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Department reported that she was taken into custody on the evening of Friday following disturbances at local businesses in Running Springs, where she attempted to deceive restaurant owners and patrons.
Investigations by the deputies from Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station traced her fraudulent activities to including scamming a taxi driver out of over $950.00 and bilking multiple motels in Crestline and Lake Arrowhead by failing to settle her lodging bills. According to the sheriff's department bulletin, Pooran is believed to have no connections to California, having been identified as a resident of either New York or Chicago.
Following her dispute with business owners in the area, deputies identified Pooran as the suspect in the taxi service theft and charged her under PC 484(a). She is currently booked at Central Detention Center, with her bail set at $30,000.00. Authorities have raised concerns that there might be more victims of her fraudulent schemes in the mountain communities.
As the investigation continues, the police encourage anyone with information related to these cases to come forward. Contact details have been provided for the Twin Peaks Station and the We-Tip Hotline. Tips can also be left anonymously on the We-Tip website for those who may want to provide information without disclosure of their identity.
