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May 19, 2008 5:51 pm US/Central
DPD: Major Car Burglary, ID Theft Ring Busted
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Police say Essie Evans was the ring leader in a car burglary, identification theft ring operating across North Texas.
Collin Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Dallas police say they have broken up a burglary ring that allegedly targeted hundreds of North Texas women, stealing not only their valuables but their identities as well.
Police say crimes associated with the ring have occurred in several cities including Carrollton, Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving and Plano. So far, more than 30 people have been charged in connection with the ring.
Police tell CBS 11 News the 'highly organized' ring consisted of men and women, posing as couples, who were stalking women who were out running errands alone. The thieves targeted vehicles at daycare centers, dry cleaners, workout facilities etc. And it didn't matter if the vehicles were open or locked... if a purse was inside, it was gone.
"Typical thing in the morning, dropping off their dry cleaning or quickly getting gas to put in their car," says Sgt. Mark Neby with the Dallas Police Department. "They turned their backs and left their purses unattended."
Police say the case was broken with the arrest late last week of Essie Evans. The 48-year-old is considered the ring leader and remains in the Collin County Jail.
Evans has an extensive criminal history, having faced charges including forgery, burglary, theft, credit card abuse and driving while intoxicated. Police say Evans went to prison for burglary and after being released set up a ring of some 30 people, teaching them his craft.
According to authorities the method of operation was always the same: break into cars and steal purses, cell phones or laptops. Sometimes, the crooks would use stolen credit cards to buy big-ticket electronic items. The merchandise would later be illegally sold or bartered for drugs.
In other cases, the thieves stole a check from someone and deposited it into the account of another victim. They even went so far as to use a deposit slip stolen from the second victim. But when they deposited the stolen check, police say the crooks would get cash back from the transaction.
Officials say the ring was so prolific that it began drawing attention to itself and unraveling. One by one, street level thieves were arrested. Police say they finally got Evans when he had to do his own grunt work.
There reportedly have been as many as 600 crimes in eight North Texas communities over the past eight months.
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