Fraud cases traced to mail thefts

[clevfan]

Fraud cases traced to mail thefts

Canton Township man got $30,000 via stolen bank, credit card data to gamble with, police say.

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

May 11, 2006

CANTON TOWNSHIP -- Township police suspect a 35-year-old unemployed resident of stealing paperwork from mailboxes to gain access to financial accounts of 15 residences in a subdivision near Canton Center and Palmer.

Over the last few weeks, about 15 reports have been filed by area residents, said Canton Police Sgt. Rick Pomorski.

"We believe he may have done additional thefts that have not been reported yet," he said.

Officials believe the man was able to obtain more than $30,000 by using numbers off personal checks, Visa credit card account statements and other financial information left in boxes to be collected by mail carriers in the morning or from letters dropped off by carriers during the day.

The man, who was arrested Tuesday, made electronic withdrawals from victims' accounts and moved the funds to an electronic account he created to pay for online gambling, police suspect.

Pomorski said Canton Police were able to identify the man's location from a series of identity theft reports coming back from a specific account at a local bank.

Deb Poleski, 45, lives in a subdivision near Canton Center and Michigan, and was aggravated to learn about the mail theft taking place near her home.

"I am angry that people would have enough nerve to take someone else's mail. I can't believe there are people out there that would stoop that low to do something like that," she said. "From now on, I'll have to be really cautious."

Poleski said she already has a great deal of her mail sent to a post office box.

"If they are taking mail from our neighbors, I'm sure they'll come around and take it from us, too," she said. "I guess I shouldn't have anything that's important sent to my house."

The department and postal authorities are reviewing the case to determine whether the man will be charged federally or under state law.

"We are aware of the case and will talk to the suspect and will talk to the United States attorney for federal prosecution," said Postal Inspector Fred Van de Putte.

[Michael Cash]

I used to live like 2 minutes from this sub. Funny thing is that it's basically right across Canton Center Rd. from the Canton Police Station. What a tool.

MC