Identity Theft

A Burbank lawmaker on Tuesday threw his support behind a bill that would strengthen the penalties against criminals stealing identities and give prosecutors more power in convicting and sentencing an identity thief. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) testified before a House judiciary subcommittee during a Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security hearing in favor of the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act. Schiff told the subcommittee that cities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area are prone to such crimes and ranks No. 2 nationally on the top 10 list of regions with the highest per capita rates of identity theft reported with more than 13,000 victims.

Two Burbank men were released from Ventura County Sheriff’s Department custody earlier this week after they were arrested Sunday in Simi Valley for identity theft, according to sheriff’s department records. Sarkis Derbeshyan, 33, and Gurgen Tadevosyan, 31, were arrested late Sunday evening after an officer allegedly found evidence of grand theft and identity theft, including $6,400 in $20 bills, bank account and associated PIN numbers and receipts from ATM machines, said Sgt. Ritchie Lew. Locations of ATMs and where the thefts may have occurred are still under investigation, Lew said.

GLENDALE — Assemblyman Dario Frommer spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people at the Glendale Central Library on Thursday, describing pending legislation aimed at providing increased protection against identity theft. "This problem is becoming one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States," Frommer said. "And California is third on the list of most identity-theft crimes committed." Frommer's legislation, Assembly Bill 2886, currently in committee in the assembly, would make mail fraud a state crime, giving local law enforcement officials the ability to investigate and prosecute identity thieves, a procedure that is now confined to federal jurisdiction through the United States Post Office.

Jackson Bell A local credit union is taking steps to educate the public about identity theft, which continues to grow at an alarming rate. Cases of identity theft -- the unauthorized use of personal information to obtain credit, goods, services and medical information -- often go unsolved because it is almost impossible to identify those responsible, and victims are often left to repair the damage, experts say. "We're a very credit-oriented society," said Jerry Rossler, assistant vice president of safety and security at Lockheed Federal Credit Union on Hollywood Way. "If someone gets victimized [by identity theft]

Ryan Carter Violent crime is down in the city compared to last year, but a 63% increase in identity theft has police warning residents to be vigilant about protecting their personal information. Det. Matthew Ferguson said the ease of the crime and its minimal punishment after conviction probably contributed to the increase in identity theft, which is on the rise throughout the country. The department's crime analyst, Lt. Kevin Krafft, agreed. "More of the criminal element is getting involved in identity theft, believing they get more bang for their buck with less risk of being caught, " he said.

Jackson Bell A Sherman Oaks man who attempted to change his identity and the identity of his 6-year-old son, with the intent of abducting the child, was arrested before he could carry out his plan, Burbank Police said this week. Brian Scott Bennett, 50, was arrested Oct. 22 on suspicion of felony identity theft after leaving a Burbank business where he spent $800 to have a false beard applied and his hair dyed a different color, Burbank Police Sgt. William Berry said.

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.

Ryan Carter Police are working to develop a public education program to get the word out about what they call one of the most widespread crimes in the city -- identity theft. Officials hope to have the program operating by January and with it, offer leaflets and information on the department Web site. "A program like that can absolutely deter the prevalence of it, and since it's a crime that is growing astronomically, a little reduction helps out," Police Det. Matthew Ferguson said.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian will host a workshop in Burbank designed to educate constituents on how to protect against identity theft. ?Identity theft is one of our fastest-growing crimes,? Krekorian said. ?Unfortunately it is likely that many of us know someone who has been victimized. Identity protection begins with informed, aware consumers and these workshops will explain how to reduce vulnerability to theft and what to do if you become a victim.? The workshop is slated for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on April 17 at the Buena Vista Library meeting room at 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank.

Burbank resident Jennifer Smith works three jobs and, for the most part, tried to pinch pennies as much as she could. And for that, her credit was nearly flawless. At least that was the case until several weeks ago, when an alleged thief opened numerous credit card accounts in Smith's name and went on a lavish shopping spree, spending more than $14,000 in a matter of days, bouncing from store to store in Glendale and Burbank. While the woman racked up the charges, Smith could be facing crumbling credit.

A man and woman in a stolen truck were arrested Saturday morning after police discovered burglary tools, drugs, birth certificates and Social Security cards in the car, police said. Police spoke with Pamela Toftee, 28, and Kevin Aide, 21, both of Victorville, in the 100 block of South Lamer Street, where they had parked the truck, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn. Police ran a search on the vehicle and discovered it was reported stolen. When police searched the truck, they found tools, suspected methamphetamine and the identifying information for five victims, including Social Security cards and credit card bills.

I hope all of you folks that are OK with people rummaging through your recycle barrels never get caught up with identity theft. Crooks are slick these days, pretending to look for pop cans, meanwhile looking for important documents and mail. Not everyone shreds their stuff like I do. Sad, but that's the world we live in these days. I won't even use ATMs anymore, you have to be looking over your shoulder every second. I agree 100% with the writer who says these people picking through others' recyclables should be fined.

A 36-year-old Los Angeles man who police say appeared to be high on methamphetamine was arrested Sunday on suspicion of identity theft and possession of Norco and Vicodin without a prescription. Officers approached the man, Richard Hathaway, just before 7 p.m. for smoking in front of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in downtown Burbank, a violation of the city's municipal code, said Burbank Police Lt. Eddie Ruiz. According to police reports, Hathaway appeared nervous and admitted he had consumed methamphetamine earlier in the evening, Ruiz said.

Calling the complaint “frivolous and malicious,” a federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed against the Burbank Police Department in which a convicted pimp claimed false imprisonment and racial profiling stemming from charges filed against him more than two years ago. In November 2010, Odonga Rush, 41, was charged with two counts of identity theft and one count of forging a public seal after officers reported finding an unpaid ticket warrant...

A convicted pimp has filed a $2.9-million lawsuit against the Burbank Police Department and the city claiming false imprisonment and racial profiling stemming from charges filed against him more than two years ago that were eventually dismissed. In November 2010, Odonga Rush, 41, was charged with two counts of identity theft and one count of forging a public seal, but the charges were eventually dismissed. In the lawsuit - filed Jan. 30 in U.S. District Court - Rush claims that Burbank police approached him “without probable cause” while he was in his car at a hotel.

Violent crimes in Burbank jumped 27% last year - a trend police attributed to a spike in robberies, mostly at retail stores where security guards and would-be shoplifters tussle. As a whole, the number of violent crimes - which include robbery, rape, assault and murder - increased from 191 incidents in 2011 to 243 in 2012, according to recent figures released by the Burbank Police Department. The category that jumped the highest was robbery, which shot up 63%, from 68 reported incidents in 2011 to 111 last year.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing firearms after Burbank police responded to reports of gunshots Thursday morning that sparked a brief neighborhood evacuation. Those arrested on Thursday include: Burbank resident Armen Galstyan, 52; Artak Grigoryan, 37, and Vigen Manukyan, 27, both of Glendale; and Armen Mouradian, 23, of Los Angeles. Galstyan was also arrested on suspicion of identity theft. Police responded to reports of shots fired at a home in the 1800 block of Keeler Street at 6:50 a.m. Thursday.

Two female juveniles were arrested over the weekend for identity theft after allegedly taking mail from nine homes, police said. An elderly female heard someone at her mailbox Saturday at approximately 11:30 a.m., and initially thought the mail carrier had delivered her mail, Sgt. Darin Ryburn said. “She went out and spoke with her neighbors across the street who were hanging their Christmas lights,” Ryburn said. The woman asked if they had seen anyone and got in her vehicle to locate the two teenagers.

Intersection of South Victory Boulevard & South Main Street Burbank police arrested Saul Ramirez, 27, of North Hollywood, on June 3 after witnesses claimed he shattered the window of a parked vehicle and removed property from inside. Ramirez allegedly fled on a bicycle and was arrested by officers after being in possession of items from other burglarized vehicles. Ramirez is being held on no bail and is under investigation from U.S. immigration officials. 700 block of East Providencia Avenue Overnight on June 2, people broke into the auditorium of Miller Elementary School and sprayed fire extinguisher contents throughout the stage and seating area.