Four suspects charged in string of incidents
The first major instance of identity theft in 2006 reared its
head in the South Valley area last week with the arrest of four
suspects Tuesday after Hollister police detectives served search
warrants at two residents in the 800 block of Nash Road.
Identity theft is becoming a growing problem in this community
as more and more individuals find their usurped threatened by
opportunistic thieves.
Four suspects charged in string of incidents
The first major instance of identity theft in 2006 reared its head in the South Valley area last week with the arrest of four suspects Tuesday after Hollister police detectives served search warrants at two residents in the 800 block of Nash Road.
Identity theft is becoming a growing problem in this community as more and more individuals find their usurped threatened by opportunistic thieves.
“When we pull off or stop a ring like this that’s very good, but just because we got one doesn’t mean that there aren’t many more out there. We need to stay diligent,” Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said.
Miller said that identify theft is a growing crime and that Hollister is definitely not exempt from its reaches. Citizens need to be aware and keep a healthy amount of skepticism at all times.
The arrests were the culmination of a six-month identity-theft investigation.
Hollister police reported that at least 12 reported incidents of identity theft fraud and check forgery cases have been reported since October.
The arrested suspects included Cynthia Honholt-Johns, 37, Stephen Michael Johns, 28, Danielle Chuss, 35, and an unidentified 17-year-old male. The suspects were booked for a variety of charges including identity theft, burglary, grand theft, forgery manufacturing false documents and conspiracy.
Two other suspects – Jason Halalay, 30 and Jacob Vineyard – were also arrested on drug charges. Halalay for possession of a controlled substance and Vineyard for an outstanding warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia. Despite the fact that the additional suspects were picked up with the others, police do not believe that drugs are connected to the identity theft cases.
Police reported that the primary suspects are believed to have been stealing checks, creating false checks and setting up bank accounts in false names.
Police suspect that Honholt-Johns, Chuss and Johns, the three primary suspects were all involved in similar crimes in neighboring cities and counties.
Detectives are still investigating the group’s activities in Hollister and are working with other agencies, including the State Probation Department to determine the extent of their operation.
Miller advised that people never carry Social Security cards in purses or wallets and that if they leave a purse or a wallet in their vehicle, make sure it is out of sight.
“If you leave it in plain sight it’s like an open invitation to steal it. You also need to make sure you keep your doors locked and windows rolled up,” Miller said. “This is Hollister, but there are still a lot of thefts that go on; people need to be suspicious.”
There are a number of ways that people can avoid having their identities stolen, according to Miller. First, always make sure that you shred any personal information that you throw away.
Along the same lines of keeping the healthy dose of skepticism remember that nothing is free, if someone calls and says that you’ve won something or they’re giving you something, there is always a catch, Miller said.
If you have a credit card stolen or can’t find it, don’t wait to report it lost/stolen. Miller said that just as fast as you discover your card missing, thieves will use it.
Miller warns against transacting business over the Internet or the phone unless you initiate it.
Often scams look legitimate. A caller may claim to represent your bank or power provider and say that they need you to verify your information, but in reality Miller said that none of these places would cold call you and ask for that information, since they already have it. If you initiate a contact with your providers that may be a different situation, since they may ask for that information to verify your identity.
He said that anyone in doubt simply has to get a name and a callback number and look into it before cooperating.
“That way, even if it is a scam, you’ll have a name and a telephone number you can give to police,” Miller said.
For more information on identity theft there are a number of resources available:
Identity Theft Resource Center – www.idtheftcenter.org
Federal Trade Commission – www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
Department of Justice – www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
California Attorney General’s office – www.caag.state.ca.us/idtheft/index.htm
There is also the Identity Theft hotline – 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338)
