Police are reminding residents to avoid leaving important papers unsecured in a mailbox after a suspect allegedly stole mail to set up a credit account not her own in February, according to Los Altos police.
Police said that a Los Altos resident told officers of the Feb. 17 theft in the 1700 block of Granger Avenue the same month.
A police investigation led officers to 44-year-old San Jose resident Evelyn Hernandez aka Evelyn Whitehurst, according to police. Police allege that Hernandez opened the account and made purchases and police believe Hernandez got the information to establish the account from a piece of mail, according to police.
Detectives with the Los Altos Police Department obtained a warrant to arrest Hernandez and served the warrant at the Elmwood Correctional Facility where Hernandez is in custody, police said.
Police are working to locate any other victims from Los Altos and the surrounding area.
Anyone with information about the incident and investigation is being asked to get in touch with the Los Altos Police Department Investigations Unit at (650) 947-2770.
Comments
Monta Loma
on May 11, 2015 at 4:43 pm
on May 11, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Always shred the mail you are throwing away, especially financial stuff. Don't let identity thieves have their way, protect your social security number as well.
I hope she gets the max sentence.