March 19, 2007

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  NEWS: IL Woman Ripped Off Elderly

  Yvette McMurtry, 29, a resident of Chicago Heights, IL, was arrested last week and charged with stealing the identities of several current or deceased residents at a senior care facility where she used to be employed. McMurtry was charged with four counts of aggravated identity theft last week, and is being held in Will County Jail on a $100,000 bond following the incident, in which she is accused of taking the personal information of at least five residents of the facility to apply for credit cards.
  
  Crete city police were alerted that there was trouble afoot at St. James Manor and Villas after a family member of one of the victims came forth with concerns to the administration of the facility. McMurtry was identified as a suspect when police tracked computer use and interviewed the victims and their families. Credit cards issued on the victims' credit without their permission had been mailed to McMurtry's address, and used to withdraw cash, obtain services, and make retail purchases.
  
  Authorities say that the misuse of the residents' credit began in November, and totaled less than $10,000. A representative confirmed that McMurtry's residence was searched in relationship to the crimes, but could not comment on whether anything incriminating was found, due to the ongoing nature of the case. This week, St. James' residents will be invited to a seminar on identity theft, what it is, and how to prevent it.
  
  
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