Identity theft suspect arrested; more arrests expected
Published 2:27 pm Thursday, January 21, 2016
POULSBO — The Poulsbo Police Department is investigating an identity theft case involving at least 41 victims, Deputy Chief John Halsted reported Jan. 21.
The case began on Dec. 21 when patrol officers were called to a local grocery store after a suspect attempted to purchase more than $700 worth of merchandise with a credit card. The store clerks questioned the suspect and became suspicious when the card was declined. The suspect left prior to officers arriving.
Officers determined the credit card used was stolen after contacting the card’s owner. Officers contacted other local merchants and found the suspect used the stolen card at another store. Using video surveillance footage and other investigative means, they developed enough information to identify the suspect.
At around 4 a.m. Jan. 3, patrol officers located the suspect in a vehicle in the parking lot of a local store. Officers arrested the suspect after she admitted to the attempted $700 theft.
“In the suspect’s pocket, they located another stolen credit card belonging to a different victim,” Halsted reported. “Officers seized her purse and forwarded the case to our detective for follow up.”
Detective David Shurick searched the purse pursuant to a search warrant and located 18 credit cards, six Washington driver’s licenses, a passport, a Social Security card, checkbooks, credit card applications, numerous checks, 1099 Tax forms, retirement account statements, and other documents.
“Detective Shurick will be working closely with other local law enforcement agencies to notify the victims. Additional arrests are expected,” Halsted reported. “This theft case, like many others in our region appears to be driven by drug addiction.”
To learn more about how to protect yourself from identity theft, go to www.dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/information/identity-theft or www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, contact the law enforcement agency where you live to file a report.
