Crestwood Man Charged With Identity Theft In New Lenox: Cops

NEW LENOX, IL — A Crestwood man has been charged after his involvement in numerous identity theft cases reported to the New Lenox Police Department over the past few months, police said. Alan Bell, 28, has been charged with two counts of identity theft.

New Lenox Police detectives, with assistance from US Postal Inspectors, Crestwood Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Department, executed a search warrant on Bell's home Sept. 26. According to police, Bell was located in the home and was arrested on scene.

Police said a credit card reader and a credit card embosser were recovered from the home, as well as a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a .40 caliber semi- auto handgun with a 50 round drum/magazine attachment. Bell is a previously convicted felon.

According to New Lenox Police, they received reports from several people who said their newly ordered credit cards had not arrived in the mail. The people later learned that the cards had been activated and numerous fraudulent purchases were made. The cards were most frequently used to purchase gift cards and Apple products at various stores.

Through investigation, Bell was identified as one of the prime suspects, police said. Bell recruited others to steal the credit cards, and using the victims’ identities, Bell would then activate
the cards and fraudulently make purchases.

Bell was taken to Will County Adult Detention Facility and bail was set at $20,000. As of Friday, he had not been released from jail.

Further charges are pending in Cook County regarding the firearms found at his home.