Police: Three women steal identity, go on shopping spree

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police tell Channel 2 Action News they are looking for three women who stole the identity of a Massachusetts woman and went on an illegal shopping spree, racking up thousands of dollars in purchases at a metro Atlanta mall.

"We are talking about $6,000 in total loss," Dunwoody Police Officer Timothy Fecht told Channel 2's Tom Regan.

Fecht said the trio hit three high-end department stores at Perimeter Mall near Interstate 285, including Von Maur, Nordstrom and Macy's.

Investigators said the thieves used fraudulent identification to open credit cards and purchased $3,000 in luxury goods at Nordstom and $3,000 in gift cards from Von Maur, among other purchases.

"It looks like high-end clothing and gift cards. Gift cards are a lot easier. They can use it when they want to or sell the cards on the second hand market. There's a big market for selling stolen clothing and stolen gift cards," Fecht told Regan.

Fecht provided Channel 2 Action News with security camera pictures of the trio taken at one of the stores. The women range in age from late 20s to early 40s.

"Obviously they're working in conjunction with each other. We have had people come from New York all the way down to Atlanta and people who travel up and down the East Coast doing these types of transactions and fraud," Fecht said
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Police said they do not know how the thieves stole the victim's identity and they suspect there could be other victims. Investigators said the woman could be part of a larger criminal organization.

Any who recognizes the women in the security photographs is asked to contact Dunwoody police at 678-382-6900.

WSBTV