Lolita Harper
SANTA CLARITA -- Burbank police detectives uncovered an intricate
identity theft ring after the arrest of a Burbank woman led them to a
room in the Santa Clarita Travel Lodge.
Robert Anglert, 45, and Janice Garcia, 51, both of Santa Clarita, were
arrested May 27 with Emilie Bose, 25, of Woodland Hills, for a variety of
charges ranging from suspicion of identity theft to possession of illegal
drugs, Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said.
Police said the trio used stolen account information to make
computer-generated checks and corresponding driver's licenses that they
used to cash the checks. Because they were using real account numbers,
Anglert, Garcia and Bose had access to bank and credit card accounts of
unsuspecting victims, investigating officer Sgt. Jose Duran said. Police
are still tabulating the total loss to the victims.
"They did incredibly authentic replicas," Taylor said. "It was
unbelievable to see what these people were able to do with a computer."
Burbank police became involved in the investigation on Friday, May 26,
when they arrested 40-year-old Burbank resident Mary Lin on suspicion of
possessing illegal drugs. During their investigation, police allegedly
found a piece of fake identification in Lin's possession, Taylor said.
While investigating Lin's alleged crimes, officers were led to the
Santa Clarita Travel Lodge, where they found Anglert, Garcia and Bose in
a room littered with fake driver's licenses, stolen check books and
account statements, crack pipes, trash and two samurai swords, Taylor
said.
Also in the room was the computer used to make the fake identification
cards, a .22-caliber handgun and a pit bull, he said.
The trio was even able to duplicate the holograms of California
drivers licenses, Duran said.
Travel Lodge employees told police the suspects had been there for two
weeks, Duran said. Hotel management declined to comment to the Leader.
