Full Notification

FREE--- Community Shred-it EventTM Free Event: Saturday, May 19, 2012. Document Shredding Helps Fight Identity Theft
Cerritos: Los Cerritos Center, 239 Los Cerritos Center, Cerritos 90703
Los Angeles (near Inglewood): The Ladera Center, 5315 West Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045
Calabasas: The Commons at Calabasas, 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas 91302
(Tax deductible donations will be collected for various youth charities)

http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/media/detail/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/may+19+2012+document+shredding

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In August 2011, personnel from a Castaic church alerted law enforcement that the church's bank account information was stolen and used to counterfeit numerous checks, causing a loss to the church of approximately $1,100. The checks were negotiated in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

During the course of an eight-month-long investigation conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Commercial Crimes Bureau North Fraud Detail, it was determined the suspects were involved in a large scale check counterfeiting operation, affecting 20 different victims, who were all Santa Clarita Valley residents and businesses, and causing a loss of over $16,000.00

In October, 2011, detectives from the Detail served a search warrant at the residence of Suspects Grant Lind, 49, and Tammy Combe, 47, in Newhall. During the search operations, hundreds of bank account numbers, fictitious identifications, stolen identifications, check manufacturing equipment, identity profiles, and counterfeit checks were seized.

Based on evidence recovered from the suspects' residence, detectives determined Lind and Combe stole bank account information from Valencia Self Storage, located in the 27800 block of Smyth Drive, Valencia. The suspects admitted to "dumpster diving" at the storage facility and stealing hundreds of partially-shredded checks they found in the trash bins.

The suspects reassembled the checks, and obtained the routing and bank account numbers. They used the information to produce more than 30 counterfeit checks, which they negotiated throughout the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys in Los Angeles County, and the Simi Valley area in Ventura County. Lind and Comb also had many other checks which were ready to be cashed.

Valencia Self Storage personnel notified their customers regarding the theft of information.

On April 18, 2012, a criminal complaint was filed against Lind and Combe, alleging 45 felony counts which include Identity Theft, Forgery of A Check, Commercial Burglary, Grand Theft, False Impersonation, Receiving Stolen Property, and Unauthorized Use of Credit Card.

Lind is currently incarcerated within the Ventura County Jail system for similar charges, in lieu of $850,000 bail.

Tammy Combe, who was arrested in Acton is currently incarcerated within the Los Angeles County Jail system in lieu of $50,000 bail.

"Remember to fully shred your personal information," said Captain Paul Becker of the Los Angeles County Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. "It needs to be both vertically and horizontally shredded into tiny pieces."

For questions or information, please contact Commercial Crimes Bureau Detective David Lingscheit at 661-287-4098.


12 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention:

http://nixle.com/alert/4699221/

Identity Theft Prevention Tips for Citizens:

http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hLAwMDd3-nYCN3M19LA0_nEDPvMJMAQ39jA_2CbEdFAFVdgp4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/news+room/news+crime+information/2011jun11_id_theft_prevention



Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org




Written by Sergeant Steven Rohrbach
Commercial Crimes Bureau
Detective Division
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
562-946-7201
www.lasd.org


Forwarded by
Deputy Lillian Peck
Captain Miike Parker
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
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