TRUCKEE, Calif. March 8, 2018 – On March 7th, 2018 the Truckee Police Department received a notification from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office of a possible fraud that may take place within the Town of Truckee.
Washoe County reported that a vacation home in Incline Village had been rented for a number of days by a couple using a fraudulent credit card issued by a foreign country. When the rental company returned to the home on Friday afternoon, they discovered major damage to the residence as well as the theft of thousands of dollars worth of electronics and other valuables. The homeowners had reported an approximate loss of $75,000 in theft and damages. The rental company also reported that another expensive home in Truckee had been rented by a couple using a credit card from the same foreign country.
Yesterday, March 7, at around 11:00 A.M. Truckee Police Officers went to the residence located in the 12000 block of Rainbow Road. The occupants in the residence refused to come out of the house for approximately 1 hour. The male occupant finally exited the house and he refused to speak to officers and refused to identify himself. After an extensive investigation, officers were able to arrest, Alexander Silviera, 29 years of age, for being under the influence of heroin.
Officers went into the home and located Haylay Brown, 21 years of age, inside the home and also under the influence of heroin. While in the home the officer recovered approximately $3,500 in stolen property which was returned to the owner.
Both subjects, Silviera from Nevada, and Brown from Oregon, have been charged with possessing stolen property, theft, providing false identification to a peace officer, and being under the influence of heroin. More charges are pending in Washoe County.
Homeowners that decide to rent out their homes as vacation rentals should be aware of the possible risks and employ professional rental companies that are properly insured.