Three local residents arrested for mail, identity theft
Crooks targeted home mailboxes
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

WARNING--The red flag on the mailbox at Ann Prehn's home in Thousand Oaks, a signal for outgoing mail, also serves as an invitation to thievery, police say.

Two residents from Agoura Hills and one from Westlake Village have been arrested on charges of mail theft, identity theft, forgery and fraud.

Jay Yang, 19, and Amanda Prescott, 20, were taken into custody April 8 by detectives from the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at Yang's home on Windsong Lane. At the residence police reportedly recovered stolen mail from about 100 victims living in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Pasadena and other area cities.

Also arrested was David Lundgren of Westlake.

Detectives are contacting victims to determine the value of the thefts. The majority of victims were unaware they had been ripped off, according to Lt. Steve Smith of the sheriff's department.

Mary and Mark Noe of Westlake Village were waiting for tax returns from their accountant, but were informed by deputies that the documents were in the possession of the suspects.

"We were the most exposed anyone could be," Mary Noe said. "Our tax return had all of our Social Security numbers on them."

Police were alerted to the mail theft crimes while attempting to thwart a rash of vehicle burglaries in the area.

"Anytime we arrest someone for burglary we ask, 'Who are your friends? Who else does this with you?'" Smith said.

Yang and Prescott are each being held on $270,000 bond. Each mail fraud and identity theft count comes with a two- to three-year jail sentence, Smith said.

Police urge residents not to mail letters--especially bill payments--through their home mailbox, unless the box is locked.

"When you put that little red flag up on your mailbox, you're just inviting the bad guys to come along and steal your mail," said Dep. Shawn Brownell, community relations officer at the Lost Hills station.

The Noes' mailbox, however, was locked. But Mary Noe said her tax return was in a large envelope and that it might have been sticking out of the box, which made it an easy target.

"Mailboxes are no longer sacred," said Senior Dep. Eric Buschow of the Thousand Oaks Police Department.

Criminals use a variety of personal information, including credit card and bank account data and Social Security numbers and telephone numbers in order to make unauthorized credit card purchases and to obtain illegal loans.

Thieves also are able to manipulate written checks. According to Smith, criminals remove the payee information on a check with a special solution and insert their own names or other false identities. Check amounts also can be altered.

"The victim would see the check cashed and wouldn't think anything of it," Smith said. "Not everyone checks the amount or who it's written to. Usually they just look at the check number."

Another easy target is the credit card payment, which a criminal can put to work by making other, illegal purchases without the victim's knowledge. A credit card application is another source of information that the criminal can cheat with. Using a stolen address and phone number, the crook opens a false account in a victim's name.

"When these types of crimes occur the disruption in victims' lives is really frustrating," Smith said.

"It's been a real pain," Noe said. "We have to monitor our accounts for the rest of our lives."

To reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of mail or identity theft, the sheriff's department recommends the following:
•Do not place bill payments or other types of identity-sensitive documents in a mailbox that cannot be locked.
•Mail sensitive documents by using post office boxes or secured USPS mailboxes.
• Reduce the amount of preapproved credit card or loan applications received by mail.
•When verifying that a check has been cashed, verify that neither the payee nor the amount has been modified. •If you observe anyone accessing mailboxes in your neighborhood, note the person's description and, if possible, a vehicle description and license plate, and immediately contact police.
 
For more information regarding identity theft protection, contact the Malibu/Lost Hills station at (818) 878-5506.

Stephanie Bertholdo contributed to this article.