CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS STORY
www.VCSD.org
Nature of Incident: Identity Theft Suspect Arrested
Report Number: 160010313 & 160014507
Location: 3000 Block of Espana Lane, Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: 01-29-2016 @ 10:35 AM
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Forgery / Fraud Unit, Thousand Oaks Police Special Enforcement Unit, Thousand Oaks Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Vanetta Hankins Inglewood, California 48
Narrative:
An identity theft investigation in Thousand Oaks led investigators to the arrest of Vanetta Hankins for identity theft, vehicle theft, forgery, receiving stolen property, along with several felony criminal enhancements.
In January 2016, investigators assigned to the Thousand Oaks Police Forgery / Fraud Unit and Thousand Oaks Police Special Enforcement Unit initiated an investigation into identity theft. Detectives learned Vanetta Hankins had rented and occupied a residence in the City of Thousand Oaks under a fraudulent name. As the investigation unfolded, investigators also learned that Hankins has also leased a vehicle in the City of Hawthorne using the same fraudulent name.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Hankins’ Thousand Oaks residence and located evidence supporting their investigation, as well as evidence connecting Hankins to several other identity theft victims. On 1-29-16, Hankins was arrested and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura. Hankins’ bail was set at $200,000.00.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is still the number criminal enterprise impacting consumers, and is estimated to cause billions of dollars in financial losses every year. Police recommend consumers take simple precautions to decrease their chances of being victimized in this manner, including:
• Frequent checks of your credit report
• Monitor savings / checking accounts for unauthorized activity
• Shred all mail you are discarding, which contains personal identifying information
• Order your credit report from the below credit bureaus and check for fraudulent accounts:
Equifax (800) 997-2493
Experian (888) 397-3742
TransUnion (800) 916-8800
If you become aware of any fraudulent cashed checks, credit card charges or accounts opened in your name, please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (805) 654-9511 to file a police report. For more information on identity theft visit: www.ftc.gov.
Prepared by: Detective Billy Hutton
Media Release Date: 02-02-2016
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Billy Hutton / (805) 947-8113 / [email protected]
Approved by: Captain Mike Hartmann
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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