Police report multiple identity-theft related crimes

Multiple victims reported instances of identity theft in the March 31 Mountain Brook Police Department community update.

One victim reported on March 1, federal taxes were filed using their identity. Another victim reported sometime between March 3 and March 25, three unauthorized accounts were opened using their identity.

A third victim reported that on March 14, their identity was used to set up a Comcast account in Georgia, according to police.

These three reports bring the total number of reported identity thefts to 16 during the month of March, according to what was released in MBPD community updates.

Identity theft has been on a steady incline, up from 40 reports in 2010 to 89 reported cases in 2015.

Police held an identity theft course to inform residents on ways to prevent and deal with identity theft. Police Chief Ted Cook has said the department will likely hold more courses in the future.

Also in the community update, police reported that three individuals were charged with trafficking in stolen identities. On March 24 on Dan Watkins Drive at Euclid Avenue, police conducted a traffic stop during which multiple stolen identities were recovered. The three occupants of the vehicle were charged.

During another traffic stop, an officer pulled over a vehicle in the 3900 block of Montclair Road and found the driver was in possession of marijuana. The incident occurred on March 30.

Two hit and runs were reported last week. One occurred between March 25 and March 27. A car parked in the 10 block of Spring Street was struck and damaged, and the offender left the scene, according to police. The other hit and run reportedly occurred on March 29. A parked vehicle in the 2600 block of Lane Park Road was struck on the driver’s door, and the offender left the scene.

Police also reported a vehicle tag sticker was stolen in the 200 block of Country Club Park. The incident was reported as property theft.