Maumee looking for woman who bought ATVs, audio gear with a stolen identity

2/18/2006

Maumee police are searching for a woman who purchased two all-terrain vehicles, computer equipment, and audio products worth about $25,000 using someone else's name.

On Dec. 3, the woman bought two ATVs at Honda East, financing them with a stolen identity, Detective Derek Sanderson said.

The crime was discovered last month when overdue notices were sent to the person whose name was used, a resident of LaGrange, Ill.

The woman is one of an unknown number of people who have committed similar thefts of ATVs and motorcycles in Ohio, Michigan, and several Chicago suburbs, Detective Sanderson said.

Several police departments as well as U.S. Postal Service inspectors are investigating the group, which also has passed bad checks. Video surveillance images taken at the Honda dealership match images taken in Chicago, the detective said.

He said the woman walked into the dealership and applied for credit to purchase two ATVs worth a total of $14,000.

The woman also went to Best Buy and Circuit City along Airport Highway, buying computer and audio products.