Police News

• Community members are urged to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following new reports of a fraudulent email scam targeting Wake Forest residents and development permit applicants.
• The emails claim to be from the “Planning Commission Town of Wake Forest” and falsely claim to seek payment for applications requesting the designation of property as a Local Historic Landmark and a rezoning request.
• Community members are urged to report to the Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Police Department any suspicious emails and delete them immediately.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Police Department are again urging community members to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following new reports of a fraudulent email scam targeting Wake Forest residents and applicants. Using a bogus email address (planning-wakeforestn@usa.com), the emails claim to be from the “Planning Commission Town of Wake Forest” and falsely claim to seek payment for applications requesting the designation of property as a Local Historic Landmark and a rezoning request. 

The emails include official-sounding language and the names of actual Town staff to seem authentic – but they are not. Many times, it’s hard to tell what’s a scam and what isn’t - but this is a scam designed to pressure victims into making payments to scammers.

Community members are urged to report to the Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Police Department any suspicious emails and delete them immediately. Do not click on any links or provide personal information in response to these messages.

Protect yourself from scams:

• Be cautious of unsolicited emails and texts requesting payment or personal information.
• Verify any Town of Wake Forest-related inquiries through official channels.

If you believe that you are a victim of this type of crime, report it to the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150.

***UPDATE - South College Street/West Owen Avenue have reopened. 

The information below was distributed Dec 12 at 11:50 a.m.:

South College Street/West Owen Avenue are closed after a tractor trailer snagged a power line and broke a utility pole.

Wake Forest Power crews are repairing the utility pole, but the work is not expected to be completed for several hours. Approximately 11 people are without power.

Wake Forest Police are directing traffic around the area. Motorists should avoid the area and use an alternate route.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

***UPDATE - All lanes along Capital Boulevard/US 1 have reopened.

The information below was posted December 9 at 8:10 a.m.

***UPDATE - Southbound lanes along Capital Boulevard/US 1 have reopened. Northbound lanes remain closed,

No injuries were reported. 

The information below was posted December 9 at 7:15 a.m.:

WAKE FOREST, NC - A multi-vehicle crash has closed the Capital Boulevard/US 1 overpass that spans Durham Road/NC 98. Police are detouring Capital Boulevard/US 1 traffic onto Durham Road/NC 98.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and use an alternate route.

Emergency personnel are on the scene, but there is no word on injuries.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

• WFPD is accepting online donations for the 27th Annual Shop with a Cop at https://bit.ly/WFShopCop.
• This year’s Shop with a Cop holiday shopping spree is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11.
• WFPD hopes to pair 45 area children with their police officer “partners” and give each child $300 to spend on a winter coat and other items of their choice.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is accepting donations from community members and businesses for the 27th Annual Shop with a Cop. To contribute online, visit https://bit.ly/WFShopCop. Checks and cash may also be mailed or delivered to the Wake Forest Police Department Substation, 225 S. Taylor St.

According to Police Chief Julius Jefferson, donations are especially welcome this year. 

“We recognize the financial hardships many families in our community are experiencing,” he said. “That’s why our goal is to nearly double the number of children we will invite to participate in this year’s Shop with a Cop and increase the amount of money each will be given to spend.”

This year’s Shop with a Cop holiday shopping spree is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11. On that day, WFPD hopes to pair 45 area children (up from 25 in recent years) with their police officer “partners.” The kids and their partners will be transported by bus from the police department to the Wake Forest Walmart, where each child will be given $300 (up from $200) to spend on a winter coat and other items of their choice. Please note: Parents are encouraged not to accompany their children. Following the shopping spree, the children and their partners will be treated to a pizza party.

In anticipation of hosting more children this year, the WFPD extended and the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) accepted an invitation to participate in this year’s event by providing troopers to partner with the additional kids. The WFPD wishes to thank the NCSHP for its participation. 

Shop with a Cop was created to help less fortunate boys and girls in the Wake Forest area experience a joyous Christmas. Since its inception in 1999, the program has helped over 600 local children. For more information, email Det. Jonathan Bryant at jbryant@wakeforestnc.gov. 

The Police Department's Shop with a Cop program is a "Wake Forest Cares" initiative. To learn more, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-cares.

Weather permitting, the Town of Wake Forest will reduce to one lane with intermittent two-way traffic a portion of East Holding Avenue in the vicinity of South Brooks Street Monday, Nov. 24, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25-26, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The temporary lane closure is necessary to allow crews to repair and restore the pedestrian crosswalk near the intersection of East Holding and South Brooks. 

Signage and flaggers will be in place directing motorists through the work area. Delays are expected, so motorists may wish to avoid the area and take an alternate route.

For more information, email Streets Maintenance Manager Joe Medlin at jmedlin@wakeforestnc.gov. 

The Town of Wake Forest offers an interactive map that gives residents a user-friendly and convenient way to view local road closures and restrictions. Available at https://bit.ly/WFTrafficMap, the Traffic Alerts Map allows visitors to point and click on current road and lane closures throughout Wake Forest. Motorists are encouraged to use the information to help plan their route and move safely through work areas. 

• WFPD will accept donations of frozen turkeys Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Police Department Substation, 225 S. Taylor St.
• Monetary donations and gift cards will also be accepted throughout the morning and used to purchase additional turkeys.
• Online donations will be accepted through midnight Saturday, Nov. 22, at http://bit.ly/WFPDTurkeyDrive.
• Turkeys will be distributed Monday, Nov. 24, from 7-9:30 a.m., at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) will accept donations of frozen turkeys Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m.-noon, as part of this year’s Turkey Drive. Police officers will be available at the Police Department Substation, 225 S. Taylor St., throughout the morning to thank donors and unload the turkeys.

The three-hour drop-off event will allow the Police Department to effectively coordinate the storage of the donated turkeys.

Officers will also accept monetary donations and gift cards throughout the morning which will be used to purchase additional turkeys. Checks should be written to the Wake Forest Police Department. The police department is also accepting online donations through midnight Saturday, Nov. 22, at http://bit.ly/WFPDTurkeyDrive.

Police officers and staff will distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 24, from 7-9:30 a.m., at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Ave. For more information, email Sgt. J. McArthur at jmcarthur@wakeforestnc.gov.

WAKE FOREST, NC – Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 18, and continuing from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Friday Nov. 21, Park Construction of NC, a contractor working on the Wake Forest Water Main Replacement & Repair Project, will close portions of North Main Street between North Avenue and Chestnut Avenue. The temporary road closures are necessary to allow crews to conduct video inspections of existing sewer lines. 

Signage and flaggers will be in place managing traffic flow and safely directing motorists around the work area. Delays are expected, so motorists may wish to avoid the area if possible and take an alternate route. Please note: Homeowners will have access to their driveways and properties at all times. 

The Town of Wake Forest is sharing this information as a courtesy. For more information, email Raleigh Water’s Blake Bartholomew at blake.bartholomew@raleighnc.gov.

The Town of Wake Forest offers an interactive map that gives residents a user-friendly and convenient way to view local road closures and restrictions. Available at https://bit.ly/WFTrafficMap, the Traffic Alerts Map allows visitors to point and click on current road and lane closures throughout Wake Forest. Motorists are encouraged to use the information to help plan their route and move safely through work areas. 

• Community members are urged to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following recent reports of a fraudulent email scam targeting Wake Forest residents and development permit applicants.
• The emails claim to be from the “Planning Commission Town of Wake Forest” and falsely claim to seek payment for applications requesting the designation of property as a Local Historic Landmark and a rezoning request.
• Community members are urged to report to the Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Police Department any suspicious emails and delete them immediately.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Police Department are urging community members to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following recent reports of a fraudulent email scam targeting Wake Forest residents and applicants. Using a bogus email address (planning-wakeforestn@usa.com), the emails claim to be from the “Planning Commission Town of Wake Forest” and falsely claim to seek payment for applications requesting the designation of property as a Local Historic Landmark and a rezoning request. 

The emails include official-sounding language and the names of actual Town staff to seem authentic – but they are not. Many times, it’s hard to tell what’s a scam and what isn’t - but this is a scam designed to pressure victims into making payments to scammers.

Community members are urged to report to the Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Police Department any suspicious emails and delete them immediately. Do not click on any links or provide personal information in response to these messages.

Protect yourself from scams:

• Be cautious of unsolicited emails and texts requesting payment or personal information.
• Verify any Town of Wake Forest-related inquiries through official channels.

If you believe that you are a victim of this type of crime, report it to the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150.

***UPDATE - All lanes along Capital Boulevard/US 1 have reopened.

The information below was posted November 10 at 11:05 p.m.

***UPDATE - Duke Energy crews are on the scene, but there is no timetable on when the road will reopen.

Officials say strong winds caused the utility poles to lean which caused the power lines to sag.

The information below was posted November 10 at 10:22 p.m.

Traffic Alert – Capital Boulevard/US 1

WAKE FOREST, NC - All lanes along Capital Boulevard/US 1 in the area of Burlington Mills Road are closed due to downed power lines. Motorists are urged to avoid the area.

The cause of the downed power lines is not known.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.