Identity Theft

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.

Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) joined the police in unveiling new legislation designed to combat a dangerous new trend in identity theft Wednesday morning at the Glendale Police Station. With protections increasing against criminals who steal credit card numbers or tamper with ATM machines, identity thieves are now turning more frequently to raiding residents' trash cans and mailboxes to obtain personal information. In turn, this information is often trafficked to other criminals for money.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE — Several trash-digging incidents here have prompted residents to organize a community meeting Thursday aimed at thwarting identity theft. Residents grew concerned about people digging through recycling bins last month when they noticed the people were stealing papers, including bills, and not the typical bottles or cans. ' Kate Fosselman, who lives on Grandview Avenue, woke up about 2:15 a.m. June 8 after hearing the rustling of trash. She peered out her window and saw a man looking through junk mail that had been placed inside a kitchen bag. She and her husband yelled at the man, who said he was sorry and fled in a navy station wagon.

Every week Crescenta Valley sheriff's station takes reports from victims of identity theft. It is a growing crime statistic with perpetrators working either in groups or as individuals. Victims sometimes do not realize they have been targeted until they attempt to get a loan or are denied a credit card because of their now damaged financial history. That is why law enforcement officials from the CV sheriff's department and the U.S. Secret Service warn citizens to be alert and understand that anyone can become a victim of identity theft.

GLENDALE — Violent crimes dropped for the first six months of this year, as did property crimes, but auto burglaries continue to rise, according to the latest statistics from the Glendale Police Department. Violent crimes, including rape, robbery, homicide and aggravated assault, dropped from 180 between Jan. 1 and July 1 2008 to 147 for the same period this year. Property crimes, such as burglary and auto, petty and grand thefts, were also on the decline, from 2,061 in 2008 to 1,784 this year.

Federal officials are investigating the theft of four 200-pound mailboxes that were bolted into concrete slabs in Glendale, Burbank and Pacoima in less than a week. Authorities have no suspects and no way to tell how many customers were affected or who may now be vulnerable to identity theft, U.S. Postal Inspector Renee Focht said. Most recently, a drive-up mail collection box was discovered missing July 2 at the Glendale post office at 6444 San Fernando Rd., Focht said. It's not clear when the mailbox was stolen, but it was there when the post office closed the day before.

A 48-year-old Whittier woman pleaded not guilty Monday to stealing more than $12,000 from an Altadena woman's bank account. Natalie Diamond was charged with three counts of identity theft and one count of grand theft of personal property in connection with illegally withdrawing funds from the woman's bank account, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court criminal complaint. Diamond also faces an offense enhancement for previous felony convictions, including burglary and grand theft, according to the complaint.

A Hollywood woman was arrested Wednesday after allegedly selling bogus Disneyland tickets on Craigslist in Glendale to at least half a dozen families, some of whom didn't learn of the fakery until being turned away at the theme park's gates. The woman, Alisa Yenokyan, 22, was taken into custody about 6 p.m. after she agreed to meet officers who posed as potential Disneyland ticket purchasers at Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue in Los Angeles, Police Det. Jonathan Owen said. The officers responded to one of her Craigslist ads and offered to buy two adult and two child tickets for $50 each, he said.

Of the 70 people charged Wednesday in Los Angeles County with assisting an Armenian organized crime ring, 19 defendants lived in Glendale and six lived in Burbank, according to documents from the U.S. attorney’s office. Local and federal authorities arrested dozens of alleged members and associates of the gang Armenian Power during a massive regional takedown Wednesday dubbed “Operation Power Outage.” FBI officials said Thursday that they are continuing a search for about 25 more people.