Bethesda Homeowner Billed $17K for Non-Existent Kitchen

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BETHESDA, MD — A Bethesda resident has been billed more than $17,000 worth of kitchen appliances and building materials after their identity was stolen through a car break-in, police say.

On Monday, Montgomery County Police detectives released surveillance images of four suspects in the case and asked the public to help identify the culprits.

Thieves broke into a vehicle parked in a driveway on Brookeway Drive in Bethesda on Jan. 20. Among the items stolen that night were documents that contained the vehicle owner’s personal information, police say.

In early February, the victim received credit cards and notifications of account openings in the mail from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and T.J. Maxx stores.

Fraudulent credit accounts were opened in the victim’s name using personal information that was likely obtained when the victim’s vehicle was broken into, authorities say. Someone also attempted to open a Best Buy credit account in the victim’s name, but that account was not activated.

The victim reported to police that someone had purchased more than $17,000 worth of merchandise, including building materials and kitchen appliances, on the Home Depot and Lowe’s credit cards.

The transactions had occurred at the Home Depot located at 15410 Chrysler Drive in Upper Marlboro and at the Lowe’s store at 2438 Market Street NE in Washington, D.C.

Detectives have obtained photographs of four suspects who used the fraudulent credit accounts at the two stores. Store video surveillance also shows the men loading the fraudulently obtained merchandise into a yellow, moving truck. It appears that additional suspects were present during the purchases, but quality photographs of the additional suspects were not captured.

Anyone who recognizes any of the suspects or has information about the case is asked to call investigators at 240-773-6726.

To be eligible for a reward, tipsters may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of these suspects. Tipsters will remain anonymous.

»Images of suspected identity thieves from Montgomery County Police