Police investigate fight, uncover Bellevue ID theft ring
Jul 10, 2014, 4:09 PM | Updated: 5:17 pm
Bellevue police made four arrests last week, uncovering what investigators call a prolific case of identity theft. (Twitter: Bellevue PD)
(Twitter: Bellevue PD)
Bellevue police made four arrests, uncovering what investigators call a prolific case of identity theft. Detectives removed several hundred documents from a unit at the Hidden Creek Condominiums.
Some type of fight or disturbance last week led officers inside the unit, in the 800 block of 126th Place N.E., where they found several people with outstanding warrants. One of the people was also holding three fake Washington I.D. cards. Police got a search warrant and discovered an I.D. factory.
“They were breaking into cars, breaking into mailboxes and breaking into homes and they were taking those documents back to the apartment and then using I.D.-making machines to make fake I.D.s. Then they would go cash the checks or use the credit cards,” said police officer Seth Tyler.
Police said they’ve confiscated 39 false Washington I.D. cards and driver licenses, 67 fraudulent credit cards, 28 false government I.D. cards, seven false Social Security cards and several hundred forged checks.
There are at least 50 victims, according to police who said a few have already told investigators that they’ve been victims of break-ins or theft.
