Across the area

Harlem man gives up belongings in scam

A 19-year-old Harlem man told police he fell victim to a scam artist at Augusta Mall on Thursday.

According to a Richmond County sheriff's report, the man was approached by a man who showed him a bandana and told him it contained $3,200. The man asked the victim to hold the money for him while he went outside to see a woman because he did not want the woman to know he had the money.

The victim exchanged some of his belongings for what he believed was a bandana full of cash. The man then left. When he did not return after 30 minutes, the man looked in the bandana and found only cut up newspaper.

The scam artist took $130, two baseball caps worth $41 and a basket of body lotions worth $30, the report says.

The thief was described as black, 50 to 60 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds. He was wearing a white baseball cap, black jacket and blue jeans.

Two charged with shoplifting at mall

Two people were arrested after trying to shoplift from stores in Augusta Mall on Christmas Eve, police said.

Natasha Rene Hill, of Warrenton, Ga, is charged with theft by shoplifting for trying to hide nine shirts in her purse at J.C. Penney, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.

She was caught by an employee and arrested by sheriff's deputies, according to the report.

Authorities also arrested Julian Kenneth Hopson, of 1709 Brown Road, Hephzibah, who is accused of hiding a Napoleon Dynamite DVD in his front pocket and walking from Sears.

He was caught by an employee, and deputies charged him with theft by taking, a sheriff's report said.

Lunch, learn program scheduled for Jan. 12

The Alzheimer's Association and the Medical College of Georgia's Memory Disorder Clinic will present a free Lunch and Learn program in January.

Alzheimer's and Advocacy: Public Policy and its Impact will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 12 at the MCG Alumni Center, 919 15th St.

Seating is limited.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP by noon Jan. 11.

Memorial service slated for co-founder of ministry

A memorial service for Jerry Oliver, a co-founder of Mercy Ministries, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Vineyard Church of Augusta, 3126 Parrish Road.

A reception for family members will follow, and people are invited to bring food.

Mr. Oliver, who founded the ministry with his wife, Fran, in 2002, died Tuesday. He will be cremated, said Annette Drowlette, a chairwoman of the ministry. The family has asked that people make donations to Mercy Ministries. Donations may be sent to Mercy Ministries, 1739 Fenwick St., Augusta, GA 30904.

Checks should be made out to Mercy Ministries. Write "In remembrance of Jerry Oliver" on the check.

Man, 51, and his mother robbed in their driveway

A 51-year-old man and his 73-year-old mother were robbed Friday afternoon in the 2400 block of Danville Street, near Old Savannah Road.

A Richmond County sheriff's report says that about 3 p.m. a red vehicle occupied by two men pulled in behind the victims in their driveway. One of the strangers pushed the man to the ground and took about $300 from his pocket, and the two assailants fled west on Nixon Road.

Neither the man nor his mother, who was also pushed to the ground, was injured.