Crime

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

Submitted by Alan Collins, Fox 6 News Reporter

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 11:04am

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Another round of cyber attacks to beware of on your personal computer.

FOX6 told you Wednesday that cyber criminals were sending out emails with malware in video of the Boston Marathon bombings. The latest cyber attack has expanded to include the explosion at a west Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday night.

"The spammers diversified the message of just focusing on the Boston explosion. Now they have added a line referring to the Texas explosion," Gary Warner, UAB's Director of Research in Computer Research, said.

Warner has been working with authorities tracking the spammers in efforts to shut them down. The crooks' goal is to download a hidden program to personal computers which in turn could cause the computer to be controlled to send out future spam. There is also another group which seeks to add a financial crime program to your computer.

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Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

Submitted by Melanie Posey, Fox 6 News Reporter

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, 7:08pm

Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

CLANTON, AL (WBRC)- The police chief in Clanton has a big problem on his hands. Chief Brian Stilwell says there's been a rash of armed robberies in his city.

He thinks the same crook has committed robberies in several other towns, including Hoover.

Authorities believe it is one guy acting alone in all these situations. They suspect he may be travelling up and down I-65 looking for targets.

Over the last months he's hit five Alabama towns that are as far as three plus hours away from each other. Police hope to stop him before hits more.

One of the most recent victims was a clerk at an Exxon gas station who goes by "Christina." She described what happened during the robbery.

"Was about 7:40. I was standing at the counter and I heard the door open. The guy came in, pointed the gun at me and said, where's the money?" Christina said.

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Granddaughter arrested for assaulting grandmother

Submitted by Nate Hall on Tuesday, March 12th, 10:12 am

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Gadsden police say a woman has accused her granddaughter of stealing from her before assaulting her.

The victim told police that she was watching her great grandson around
11:30 p.m. on Monday when her granddaughter, the mother of her great grandson, came to pick the child up. She says the granddaughter took $300 from her purse and returned $200 of it when confronted.

The victim said the granddaughter called a friend over to the apartment, who brought drugs to smoke. Upon asking the granddaughter to leave, the victim says she was pushed into a chair and the granddaughter put her fist next to the grandmother's mouth and pressed down until she couldn't
breathe.

20-year-old Asia Lynn Rivera was taken into custody on Monday. She faces warrants for Robbery 3rd, Assault 2nd and Unlawful Imprisonment.

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Boaz man charged with stealing tools, mowers

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Wednesday, January 16th, 1:58 pm

CARLISLE, AL (WAFF) - A Boaz man was arrested and charged with stealing tools and property from a Carlisle home.

Etowah County deputies said Gary Willis, 38, stole a welder, engine parts, two lawn mowers, a tool box and several boxes of family heir looms from a residence on Boutwell Road.

A neighbor saw Willis walking away from the house and notified police with a description.

He was arrested and charged with theft and burglary.

The stolen items have not been recovered.

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Woman robbed in hotel room in Gadsden

Submitted by Nate Hall on Wednesday, January 9th, 1:38 pm

A 23-year-old Gadsden woman says she was robbed on Wednesday morning in a hotel room, according to Gadsden police.

The woman told officers that an acquaintance called and told her he was going to bring her some food to the Budget Inn hotel room at 2704 West Meighan Blvd. When she answered the door around 1:40 a.m., six black males rushed inside the room and forced her to the ground while using a jacket to cover her head. The victim say they ransacked the room, cut the phone line and stole her cell phone.

Gadsden police say the investigation is ongoing.

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Gadsden woman accused of cutting Wal-Mart employee

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Friday, January 4th, 2013, 4:19pm

Gadsden woman accused of cutting Wal-Mart employee

GADSDEN, AL (WBRC)- A Gadsden woman is behind bars for allegedly assaulting a Wal-Mart employee while trying to steal from the store.

Police say Nephretaria Walker, 32, attempted to leave the East Gadsden Wal-Mart without paying for several items on Dec. 16, 2012. When a loss prevention officer confronted her, police say Walker charged and cut the employee in the chest or collarbone area with "some type of object." Officials did not specify what kind of object was used in the alleged assault.

Police officers arrested Walker on Thursday, Jan. 3 on outstanding warrants stemming from the incident.

Walker now faces charges of first degree robbery with a bond of $50,000 and third degree assault, which carries a $1,000 bond. She's in custody of the Etowah County Jail.

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Siblings arrested following theft investigation

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, 1:59pm

Siblings arrested following theft investigation

By Amanda Jarrett - email

ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - Etowah County Sheriff's Investigators arrested a brother and sister in connection to a theft case.

William Keith Walden, of Albertville, and Connie Walden-Stidger, of Tennessee, face theft and criminal mischief charges.

Investigators say the siblings stole a utility trailer and chainsaw from a home on Highway 77 in Attalla. The owner saw the items being pulled by a truck in Gadsden and called police.

Walden and Walden-Stidger are out of jail on bond.

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