What Is the 'Felony Lane Gang?': Natick Police Say Beware

By Alex Newman and Charlene Arsenault (Patch staff)

NATICK, MA - Weston Police Thursday began circulating an image of a woman wanted in connection with a string of area car break-ins earlier this year.

Within a day officers hit pay dirt; they had identified the elusive woman who cashed $6,500 worth of checks belonging to a Weston resident.

Of course, it's hard to stay hidden while being sought by police in three states.

Kimberly Phillips, 30, is one of hundreds of alleged members of the Felony Lane Gang, a syndicate of vagrants, drug addicts and prostitutes participating in fraudulent scams nationwide.

In addition to the Weston break-ins, several associates of the Felony Lane Gang, including Phillips, are believed to be connected to crimes in Pelham, NH, Salem, NH, Waltham, Braintree, Foxborough and towns in Connecticut.

It prompted an alert on Thursday from Natick Police, along with several other departments across the state.

"We are receiving reports from several communities of vehicles being broken into," said Natick police. "Based upon the nature of these breaks the activity is being attributed to a group referred to as the Felony Lane Gang. This group is made up of over 800 known members who travel to different areas of the country to steal. The typical method is to smash out the window of a vehicle with items of value in view. The objects of their desire are cash, credit cards, checkbooks and more importantly, your identification. After using your cash and credit cards they use individuals to pose as you and drain your bank accounts. Felony Lane is a term coined by the banks to describe the lane furthest from the drive up window typically used by these individuals who are trying to shield their identity by distance and disguise."

The gang is a loose conglomerate of people in hopeless situations, recruited by ranking members who mastermind the schemes and reap the profits. So far they have netted more than $1 million from victims up and down the East Coast.

"Smash-and-grab" car break-ins are their modus operandi; they pull up next to a car, either open an unlocked door or break a window, grab all valuables in plain sight, and then they're gone.

The thieves then use the stolen credit cards, driver's licenses, checks and bank information to withdraw as much as possible. They go to great lengths to blend in while carrying out their scams, sometimes renting a car, buying nice clothes and wearing a wig in an effort to look more like the person in the driver's license picture.

When at the bank they frequently use the lane furthest from the building in order to remain invisible to tellers and security cameras, a practice that earned them the name "Felony Lane Gang."

Law enforcement across the country has been cracking down on the fraudsters as patterns turn up in their movements; for example, after breaking into cars in one state, the thieves travel to another state to defraud the banks. Once they start breaking into cars in that state, they come back to the original state to execute the scam.

Weston Police believe that is how Phillips ended up in Connecticut from Massachusetts.

Last month police in Florida apprehended one of the alleged masterminds behind a series of Pennsylvania break-ins, weeks after he escaped capture in that state.

And in February the Justice Department indicted 13 alleged members in a $1 million Maryland-area conspiracy.

According to the 27-count indictment, they had been actively recruiting and running scams since 2012 while traveling between Maryland and Florida.

"We are asking that folks be especially vigilant in parking lots," said Natick police. "This group likes to target gyms, daycare centers and public parks. These are places where we are prone to leave purses and wallets in a vehicle. The group likes to travel in rented SUVs and use stolen or altered plates."

Tips from the Natick Police Department:

• Don’t leaves purses or anything of value visible in your car.
• Make sure your car is locked.
• Be observant of your surroundings.
• Report suspicious activity to the Police.
• If you are a victim: Call the Police immediately. Notify your bank and credit card companies as soon as you hang up with us.