Felony Lane Gang May be Behind Stoughton Break-ins

STOUGHTON, MA - A notorious gang may have committed multiple break-ins in Stoughton, police said.

On April 6, two vehicle break-ins were reported at Elite Health and Fitness Center on Central Street, along with one at LA Fitness on Hawes Way, according to the Enterprise. Another break-in was reported at LA Fitness Tuesday.

Police believe members of the gang used an automated window punch tool.

Locally, a Florida woman was arrested Friday in connection to the gang. She is charged with trying to cash a fraudulent check in Weymouth and Sharon.

The Felony Lane 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."

Alex Newman contributed to this report.