LEWISTON, Maine — A man and a woman making their way down the Eastern Seaboard are draining bank accounts by stealing identities and bank information from motor vehicles, police said.
Authorities in New Jersey traced the suspects to Maine after seeing the front page of a newspaper the male driver was reading while waiting at a bank drive-through. That paper, The Forecaster, is a weekly newspaper owned by the Sun Media Group, which also publishes the Sun Journal.
The duo started in Lewiston at the end of August and recently made their way to New Jersey.
On Aug. 28, Lewiston police responded to two motor vehicle burglaries where windows were broken and purses stolen, Detective Lee Jones said Friday.
The male suspect used the two victims’ identifications and bank account information two days later at mid-morning to withdraw $3,000 in cash at the drive-through teller window at a bank, which wasn’t named by police. A female passenger claimed to be the account owner, Jones said.
On Aug. 30, Lisbon police responded to a parking lot at a local walking trail for a motor vehicle burglary. The window of the vehicle had been broken and the female victim’s Bank of America checkbook was missing. She reported the theft, and police later discovered the thief had used information from her checking account and driver’s license the same day to withdraw $2,000 from her account at an Exeter, N.H., Bank of America branch, Jones said.
Photos from bank surveillance cameras from both withdrawals show the suspects in the same car, described as a white, four-door Nissan Altima sedan with Pennsylvania registration. No registration number was observed.
The man is described as white with a receding hairline, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, a goatee and a tattoo on his left wrist. Two women were seen in the male suspect’s car, but no identification was available for them, police said.
The public is asked to call Jones at 207-513-3001 and/or Lisbon police officer William Tapley at 207-353-2500, extension 240, with any information.
Let’s get these Dirtbags!
panhandling 2.0
Imagine if they used that drive for something positive. Like getting a job instead of stealing what others have earned.
Gottcha….idiots
I do not understand. I went to cash a $3,000 check at Bangor Savings Bank from my attorney. The check was good and I had my U.S. Passport as proof of my I.D.. I wanted to just cash it so I could repay a friend of mine some money that he lent me to buy a pick-up. I was at the Dexter branch of BSB for almost an hour and left with the check, uncashed. They told me they needed to know who my employer was, they needed my social security number, my driver’s license number, and who I banked with. I told them I was self employed, gave them my SSN, gave them my driver’s license number, and told them that I banked with the credit union up the street. After another fifteen minutes of playing on the computer, the girl came back and said that I had to be more specific about my employment. I took the check over to the credit union and deposited it into my account, which is what I should have done in the first place. My point is, how does this clown drive up to a window with shaky I.D. and ride off with the cash in a matter of seconds and I couldn’t get one cashed after an hour of jumping through hoops?
GOOD POINT! Hassle the good people and cater to the “DIRT BAGS”
Did you use the drive-through, or did you go inside? Maybe the drive-through tellers are a bit more laid back.
I went inside. At most banks, the tellers go back and forth from the window to the drive up. I doubt your theory on a lower level of diligence at the drive up window would hold water.
They probably took the check to the bank it was drawn on. There’s always a lot less hassle that way. As far as not checking an ID, I don’t have an answer to that one.
I took the check to the bank it was drawn on too. That is how I ended up at BSB. I bank at a credit union up the street. Every time they asked me to jump through another hoop, they blamed it on new homeland security rules. It was ridiculous and I will never do business with Bangor Savings Bank as a result of that experience. My point was that I do not understand how these low lives rolled up to a drive up with shaky I.D. and drove away with the cash in a matter of seconds while I couldn’t get a check cashed in an hour at BSB? Remember, I had a valid passport, the check was good, and I still walked out with an un-cashed check after a 1 hour inquisition.
I know what you said. I was just tossing an idea out there. Perhaps that BSB you went to had been burned in the past, and is extra diligent. Perhaps the account your check was drawn on has had some problems in the past, and they aren’t to just straight up cash them. I worked at a place like that once. The bank kept giving me a run around as to why they couldn’t cash them. I finally had a friend who worked for the bank tell me what was up. I changed jobs fast!
Been there, done that. Rediculas to say the least.
They took the check to the victims bank and pretended to be the victim. This is the same as you going to your credit union.. Your credit union just checks your id because your account is with them (not necessarily the bank where the check is drawn on). Going through the drivethru makes it harder for the teller to check the photo on the id.
Anything over 2 grand must be reported to IRS. Our government has come to the conclusion that (in the past) large sums of money being cashed usually meant money laundering. Or it was for drug transactions. Next time, try a check at $1900. You should receive less hassle.
The point being, when you tried to cash it, you volunteered that you may be suspect.
So, I am a suspect? O.K., check me out and cash the check. I have nothing to hide and my taxes are paid up to date. I walked out with the check, un-cashed. They told me that they could not cash it until I was more specific with them as to what my field of self employment was, period. I asked them if it was bank policy or government regulations. They said government regulations. I went to my credit union and deposited the check, which is what I should have done in the first place. I asked my credit union manager while I was there if I would have to provide proof of what I do for a living in order to cash a $3,000 check, even if I was not a customer? She said no. I guess Bangor Savings Bank has different government regulations they have to follow! lol.
Downeasta didn’t call you ‘a’ suspect, but rather suspect (suspicious to the bank).
Maybe ‘specious’ would have been a better word for downeastah to use?
I believe the IRS reporting trigger is still $10,000 per transaction. I know it was 10 years ago anyway.
I believe you are correct. 9,999.99 isn’t a problem, though. :) Save your pennies, people.
I thought the trigger amounts were relative to regions having a profiled income range?
It’s on a sign in every bank…more than 10,000,00 (ie; 10,000 and one penny) cash transaction (ie; withdrawal or deposit of cash (NOT checks)) is subject to cash transaction reporting to the Federal Govt. as a result of legislation aimed at preventing money laundering/ terrorist financing.
From the bank’s perspective, there’s a lot more to it than this…too long to discuss in this forum.
I believe it to be “a negotiable instrument” which would include checks. for more craola about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Report_of_Foreign_Bank_Accounts#Types_of_reports
If you meant Crayola or crapola, they both are a lotta reading! Good link though!
I would say whomever cashed the checks for him(them) were NOT doing there job!! I would rather someone ask for tons of info than just give my money to any Joe off the street!! BSB trains there employees well!!
How does BSB train their employees well? I walked out with the check in my hand when I had legitimate I.D., the funds were available, and they had the cash on hand to make good on the check? It took the teller 5-10 minutes to enter each request for more information into their computer system and each time the computer came up with another query. As I said, I jumped through a lot of hoops before I finally said no more. The manager got involved and she just kept apologizing and blaming it on 9/11. She parroted the corporate position perfectly, word for word, every time. BSB does not train their employees well, they did nothing to gain another customer, in fact, they alienated one. Please remember that I am a legitimate business man and just wanted to cash a check from my attorney. I am not some scum bag riding around passing bad checks.
I think you were given a load of malarkey. I went into my local BSB just last month with a check from my school for $2500. It was cashed, no questions asked, except what size bills I wanted. I don’t even think I had to show an ID. Granted, I know many of the people in there, so that’s probably why the no ID. No hoop jumping though.
I’d be willing to bet the funds had NOT cleared, and for whatever reason they just kept telling you they couldn’t do it for other reasons, rather than tell you the real reason.
Nothing gets flagged under 10 grand.
The first thing I asked was if there was a problem with the check or the account. The check was drawn on my attorney’s account and he is a former president of the bar association, so I seriously doubt there was a problem there. They openly admitted that the check was good and there was no problem there. I successfully jumped through every hoop except for the last one. My attorney was furious when I told him of the incident. I wrote a letter to BSB demanding an explanation and so did my attorney. We are both still waiting for a reply!lol.
a lot of banks won’t cash a check unless you actually have an account with them.
I’ve been with Bank of America for years and all the branch tellers know me, so was I surprised to find that the new policy is to present your ID every time!
The Dexter Bangor Savings Bank branch is horrible. Both my sister and I bank at BSB, I had an appointment up there and she went in to cash a check for $150 and they wouldn’t cash it. We came back home and was able to get it cashed in a few minutes.
Next time you know… use the drive-up window.
Here is the skinny…..the bank you went were doing their job…..period…..the bank these perverts went to did not do their job……simple…..next time you need a check cashed with an immigration form, please try to cash aforesaid check under the nearest bridge…could be helpful…..
My valid U.S. Passport is an immigration form? lol. My valid Maine driver’s license is an immigration form? lol. They asked for my SSN, I gave it to them. They asked for my email address, I gave it to them. They then asked me what I did for a living, and I told them I was self employed. That was not specific enough for them. I jumped through every hoop except for the last one. My line of work should have had nothing to do with the validity of the check, period. I am a legitimate business man and I should not have to go “under the nearest bridge” to cash a check from my attorney when I am standing in his bank, period.
Anybody these days can say they are self employed. Someone hiding something uses that line and hurts those who are actually self employed for a living and by just saying “Oh I am self employed” to a bank you don’t have an account with, it starts to sound fishy these days. On the other hand a person who was not self employed, I bet would have had no problem cashing the check because they could come up with an employer name and number.
I am sure if you said you was a freelancer, gave the name of your company there wouldn’t be a problem. As the old expression goes, call your congressman.I am self employed too…..does that sound convincing? I bet a handful of people won’t believe me.
Errors you made: 1. You were not carrying a copy of the koran. 2. You did not wear a O’bama pin on your clothing. 3. You are a republican.
most banks dont cash checks unless your an account holder. i think bangor savings did a great job. why didnt you go to your credit union in the first place, makes no sense
Sharing the wealth. Isn’t that what people want.
Bad boys bad boys whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
they may be dirtbags, but people should not leave their wallets, purses or any other things that thieves would want. When I get out of my car I either take my wallet with me, or put it in the glove compartment out of sight and lock my car.
I agree with you to some extent. Don’t want your car stolen? Don’t leave the keys in it.
BUT, as the article said, windows were broken. Doesn’t necessarily mean they left their purse in plain view & probably means the cars were locked too. I usually toss some old clothes over my stuff if I’m off hiking or something, but that doesn’t guarantee some jerk won’t see what they can find anyways.
The days of leaving any items of value in your car are long over. Thieves are opportunists. Eliminate the opportunity by not leaving anything of value in your vehicle and lock the car.
Last month the government put a lien on all the money in every Bank in the country.. It is the Governments until you withdraw it or take it themselves
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Katahdin Trust Company would adjust checking account checks cashed, out of sequence, in order to ensure larger amounts cashed out of an account holder’s account before later, smaller checks were written and cashed.
The result was, when the larger checks were “cherry picked” by the bank, out of sequence, and cashed and the amounts debited from accounts, the accounts were depleted quicker than was intended by the account holder, and out of sequence.
Therefore, if an account holder was in an overdraft status as a result of the larger check being cashed first, then the bank would cash all the smaller checks AFTER that one and before the smaller checks, and this might result in in an overdraft, and the bank began charging overdraft fees (up to $35.00) for every check they cashed, even if these smaller checks were only for three or so dollars to purchase milk, baby food or cereal, which is often the case with poorer people on fixed or UIC, direct deposit incomes.
Each week, therefore, between UIC deposits, the bank can have charged fees for two, three or more checks for a whopping profit, rather than a single overdraft charge for the most recent, large check amount, had they cashed that check in the sequence the check writer intended to have his or her UIC money withdrawn. The overdraft fees could be as much as 30 percent or more of the UIC deposit, or between $100 and $150 each week, or $400 to $600 per month!
This sharp practice by Katahdin Trust Company and other banks was exposed and is now illegal… provided the account holder holds a debit card.In fact, it seems that this sharp practice, alone, by Katahdin Trust Company was the reason they were, until President Obama made the practice illegal two years ago, able to publish their large profit margins for many years, mostly on the backs of the poorer members of their community.This evident by the fact that that profit margin sharply dropped the quarter after Obama’s law to prevent banks from doing this to consumers went into effect. Now, a bank can not charge overdraft fees without the account holder’s consent for so-called “overdraft” protection and the consequent overdraft fees.Interestingly, the poorest, until the new law, were usually denied a debit card, and had to use the risky check book system. Katahdin set the poor up to fail and then, literally, bilked them of what little money they had through an internal accounting scheme.
Personally, I don’t see any difference between what this couple seems to be doing and what Maine’s Katahdin Trust Company and the other banks did for far too long.
I have 2 words……..Death Penalty
Banks are just as much as fault as the thieves. They hire dummies at low salaries to handle money. Not a good thing.
not only that I saw an ad for Armored Car Driver -all kinds of background checks, drug testing, have to be bonded etc. -pay -11.75 per Hour .
Parasites!!! Too damn lazy to work so they steal from those who do. Looks like the old bag in the car has a butt in her hand. Hope they catch them soon.
Am I wrong? These two look like Dylan Hurlbutt and Brittany L. Bickford. the couple arrested on July 29th in Skowhegan on assault charges. Does anyone else see the likenes?
Is his name Dave?
Ladies and gents…first rule….leave nothing in the vehicle….wanna get robbed ?? leave it somewhere accessible…..want to stay safe ?? then, lock it or take it with……come on lazy folks….brush off the crumbs and leave no food for the ants at the picnic…….period……perfect defense………make it hard for these people………make them work for it…make it hard for them….just do not leave your things unattended and then cry afterwards…be adults…and aware……..do nothing to tempt….ZERO…..enough said……
If we are to believe the Media in this country about honoring our own Imam in the presidential election, and if he wins re-election then we might as well spend everything, in the next four years there will be nothing left of this country anyway, we will be a socialistic/communist State and be forced to attend readings of the koran.
Unrelated and ludicrous.
Ok, I don’t care if the check is for 10 cents…from now on you have to have a password, and don’t say it out loud, someone might hear it, they make you write the password and give it to the teller. You don’t get the password right, then they make a phone call to you and if you have a cell phone you better be answerin’ that phone call right there at the window buddy…..if they don’t get an answer you don’t get the 10 cents! Yeah, it’s a pain in the backside but at least a lowdown thief won’t get your hard earned money.
How about just creating a pin, and entering that number on a pin pad? Much easier and more secure (what if the teller is dishonest, & keeps the written passwords) than a password. Probably won’t ever happen, but a great thought!