Newspaper Helps Cops Nab Identity Theft Suspect:

Police officials credited the Daily Times for assisting in identifying a woman wanted for racking up more than $5,000 in charges on a senior citizen’s bank card.

Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood called it “powerful” when the police department and the media collaborate to solve a crime.

It was two weeks ago that the Daily Times published a surveillance photo from an ATM machine of a woman withdrawing cash.

“We had no idea who she was,” Chitwood said. “But as soon as the photo ran, we started receiving calls with an identification and where she worked.”

Tanna Marie Murray, 20, of the 2600 block of South 67th Street, Philadelphia, was a cashier at a Secane restaurant and allegedly stole the victim’s credit card.

“The victim is 75 years old and went to the restaurant to eat,” Chitwood said. “She preys on him, gets his card and charges more than $5,000 in a short period of time.”

See the full report at delcotimes.com.

Nursing Home Employee Steals Patient’s Identity:

A Charleston woman faces 20 years in prison for mail fraud.

Pamela Jo Morris, 49, of Charleston, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to mail fraud.

While working at a nursing home, Morris stole the personal identifying information from a patient and applied for a credit card.

Upon receiving the credit card, Morris charged approximately $2,700 to the credit account.

See the full report at WOWKTV.

Nursing Home Employee Guilty of Identity Theft:

Tara C. Campbell of Crisfield pleaded guilty to two counts of theft less than $500 and one count of theft scheme greater than $500 in connection with the use of personal information from three elderly patients at the Lakeside Assisted Living at Mallard Landing Retirement Community in Salisbury.

Prosecutors from the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office said at least one of the victims suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and one has died since the thefts.

“To steal the identities of elderly people, especially one who has Alzheimer’s, is unfathomable,” said Paul Montemuro, assistant Wicomico County state’s attorney. “It’s really a terrible crime because this was when people are at their must vulnerable.”

Montemuro said Campbell, who worked at the retirement community from October 2007 to last January, stole the victims’ information and used it to apply for credit cards in their names to which she charged more than $8,600.

Arlene Spack, executive director of Lakeside Assisted Living, said the retirement community was “shocked and appalled” about Campbell’s actions.

“We make it a priority to ensure that our private information of our patients remains safe and secure,” she said. “As soon as we received word about the incidents, we cooperated fully with investigators on their case.”

Source:  Delmarvanow.com