Two Long Beach residents have been arrested and are facing several identity-theft related felonies, police said.
On Nov. 6, a Santa Barbara resident contacted the police department to report the heft of a credit card from his mail. A suspect was captured on the resident’s home surveillance camera. Detectives learned the suspect used the stolen credit card and used a second victim’s identity to purchase a high-end vehicle at a local dealership, Sgt. John Ingram, police spokesman, said in a news release.
The investigation led to the identification of Michael Flitterman and Alexandra Pearl, both of Long Beach. Search and arrests warrants were issued in Long Beach. Additional identity-theft victims were located, along with tools used to manufacture counterfeit identification, credit cards, and other documents. Mr. Flitterman and Ms. Pearl were taken into custody, Sgt. Ingram said.
The Santa Barbara Police Department is reminding residents to take precautions against mail theft. When able, residents are advised to track important deliveries, request a delivery service hold your package at their pickup facility, or minimize the time that mail is left in unsecured mailboxes.
Authorities also noted the significance of home surveillance, which has played an important role in this case and other local cases.
“Lastly, identity theft is best stopped by monitoring your credit reports with regularity,” Sgt. Ingram said. “You can also subscribe to a service that will alert you of any changes in your financial history.”
