June 26, 2003
Three face charges in rash of identity theft, fraud cases
Investigators from several Southern Oregon counties have cracked a ring of thieves who stole people’s identification to fraudulently buy goods they then sold or traded for drugs.
Detectives from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Medford Police Department arrested three people Wednesday who were believed to be connected to the crimes.
Brian James Parke II and Alice May Parke, both 23 and of the 7700 block of Division Road, White City, will face multiple theft, burglary and identity theft charges, as will Robert Russell Paul Dodd,
20, of the 8300 block of Barbur Street, White City, sheriff’s deputies said. Investigators have identified other suspects.
Investigators linked the three arrested to a series of residential burglaries and vehicle break-ins in the White City area over the past several months, sheriff’s detective Colin Fagan said.
The thieves took wallets and purses with identification inside. They even entered occupied homes.
They used drivers’ licenses as identification, wrote checks on the victims’ accounts, applied for credit and bought merchandise from businesses in Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane
counties. They also sold stolen property and traded property for drugs, Fagan said.
Multiple police agencies in all of the counties helped investigate, the sheriff’s office said.
A large amount of stolen property was recovered and much of it returned to the proper owners. Police hope to find more stolen goods and want the public’s help. Anyone who bought potentially stolen
items can call Fagan at 541-774-6815.
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