Police believe ID-theft ring uncovered in Monroe County

4/30/2008

MONROE - The investigation of a house burglary in Monroe County led Michigan State Police to discover yesterday a suspected identity theft ring that may have victimized several hundred people, state Trooper Jon Wickwire said.

Three suspects have been identified, but no arrests have been made.

A credit card, computer, and jewelry were taken in a burglary March 31 in Monroe County's LaSalle Township. Through court subpoenas, troopers learned where items bought with the stolen credit card were shipped, Trooper Wickwire said.

During the search of a Detroit home yesterday, troopers found Social Security cards, checkbooks, driver's licenses, bank statements, dates of birth, prior addresses, answers to questions asked by creditors to verify identity, and notebooks with handwritten personal identification information.

Police seized the information and electronics including digital cameras and flat-screen televisions still in factory packaging.