UPDATE--September 8th, 2010, Tulsa Police say they filed four Uttering a Forged Instrument After Former Conviction Of A Felony charges against Crystal Martinson in connection to cashing checks in other people's names. Records show she was already in custody after Sand Springs arrested her on several theft charges. Records also show Martinson has a pending theft chrage out of Osage County. Oklahoma prison records also show she was still serving a six-year suspended sentence for theft charges and was also given drug court.
Police are tracking a thief who’s making a living cashing in on other people’s identities.
Tulsa Police say a woman is suspected of being caught at least four times cashing stolen checks and she’s raking in thousands of dollars.
The victim says before she parked at Utica Square for a concert she put her purse in the trunk of her car. When she returned from the concert her purse was gone.
Three thousand dollars later and her identity stolen the victim wants this phony caught.
Tulsa Police say the thief has assumed another woman’s identity and in four surveillance photos she’s wearing dark shades and there’s something on her shirt.
"Wearing my nametag that was in my purse," says the victim.
The thief stole the victim’s nametag so she’d appear to be more legit as she cashed in on stolen checks from car break-ins.
"These people work in groups. Usually one will do the burglary and the other is cashing the bad check," says TPD Burglary Sergeant Brandon Watkins.
The victim will be identified just as Debbie for her protection. She says the con artist now has everything in her purse, her checkbook, credit cards, family photos, you name it.
"She or he they basically took my identity,” says the victim.
She cancelled her cards the night her car was broken into but the thief was still able to get $3,000 from her checking account.
"Then I started getting the bounced checks," says Debbie.
Police say the woman caught on surveillance cameras has drained at least two people’s bank accounts.
In one transaction she’s caught on camera cashing a $300 check to Debbie, the woman she’s pretending to be on the checks. A day later she returns and does the same thing and writes a $250 check and 15 minutes later she cashes a $400 check. All checks stolen from a car break-in from a residential neighborhood.
Then a month goes by and she is caught again cashing a $500 check. Again assuming Debbie’s identity but uses a different check stolen from another car break-in at a local motel.
"We also believe that there are more we are waiting to hear from retail stores," says Watkins. “Eventually we know that someone is going to know who this person is and they are going to contact us and there is enough footage to tie her to multiple crimes and who she is working with."
The real Debbie says she’s done everything to get her new identity back and to protect herself in the future.
"It's horrible, it's evil. People have no conscience," says the victim.
Debbie says she put her purse in the trunk of her car before she parked her car. Police say that is a better protection from the thieve, but if thieves want in they’ll find a way into your car.
If you find that your car has been broken into report it to police immediately and call your financial intuitions to cancel your accounts.
If you have any information about this fraud and burglary case call Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS (2677) or text a tip to “CRIMES” (274637) and begin your message with “TIP918” or you can submit a tip online atwww.tipsubmit.com. Remember you never have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward.
