A Portland-based group of identity thieves moved from city to city, wearing designer suits and fancy watches, frequenting strip joints and casinos. The group operated as a new breed of quick-hit ID thieves known as “creepers.”
Creepers are a group of people that sneak into offices and make off with checks, credit cards and personal information.
The ring leader of the group, Antoine L. Lawrence, has been sentenced to eight years in prison and was ordered to pay his victims more than $600,000 in restitution. The 37-year-old is the seventh member of the team to be sentenced in federal court. Nine were indicted, while 10 more have been convicted in state courts.
During the years from 2001 to 2007, the group traveled from Hawaii to Oregon, to Nevada, Texas and California, targeting the offices of doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants and insurance agents. These were their targets due to the availability of petty cash, corporate credit cards and prescription drugs.
The team operated in this way: lookouts were posted with two-way radios or prepaid cell phones, while others picked locks or walked into offices at the end of the wok day. They often took master keys or employee key cards. The team even had its own graphic designer, who carried a kit used to make fake IDs.
In addition to office items, the crew also stole valuable personal items from offices like jewelry, guns and ammo, a flat-screen TV, collector stamps and autographed sports memorabilia. Investigators estimate that the team made off with at least $688,623.
The lesson here for business owners is to never leave valuable personal items out where people like Lawrence can get their hands on it. Businesses should also be careful about how they store cash and company credit cards. In addition, security should be amped up if these items are stored. Employees and customers should be monitored to prevent those who don’t belong from infiltrating and possibly committing crimes.
It may seem like a bit much to keep a close watch on your business like this, but it’s certainly preferable to being robbed blind.
