Police seized driver's licences, CareCards, credit cards and SIN cards at a PoCo home.
Photograph by: Submitted photo , for the NOW
There may be few things that can make you feel more violated than having your identity stolen. But Coquitlam Mounties have put a dent in the crime after busting up an identity theft ring.
Police said they arrested a man on Jan. 16 at a PoCo home and seized a large amount of equipment allegedly used in making, forging and altering credit cards and personal identifications.
Investigators also seized stolen property and illegal drugs at the home.
PoCo resident Alvin Abhai Chand, 43, is facing four charges, including possession of a stolen firearm, possession of instruments use in forging or falsifying credit cards, possession of identity documents of another person, and possession of stolen or forged credit cards.
RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said the suspect is well-known to police.
"This successful investigation has disrupted the [alleged] local identity theft ring and virtually stopped this [alleged] 'fake credit card factory' from running," he said.
Chung said police have notified the banks to which the cards belong, but noted it's up to them to notify clients. He also said investigators are sifting through hundreds of stolen cards and IDs, which are from all over the Lower Mainland.
Police are reminding residents to contact their bank if they believe their cards or information have been compromised and to check their credit score from time to time.
Meanwhile, Chand has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Monday.
