[News Release] – On August 17, 2014, deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a residence located within the unincorporated area of Santa Clarita (Westridge / Valencia). The victim reported she was contacted by her credit card company regarding a suspicious transaction. Deputies began the investigation and contacted station detectives.

Station detectives learned that an unknown suspect used the victim’s personal information to bypass security questions. The unknown suspect requested that a replacement credit card be sent to the victim’s residence in Santa Clarita on expedited Fed-Ex shipping.

Detectives believe the unknown suspect then responded to the victim’s residence and stole the package containing the replacement credit card, along with another package containing clothing from the victim’s doorstep.

Hours later, the credit card was used to make a purchase for more than $23,000 at a location in Bakersfield to purchase a Rolex watch. During the purchase, it is alleged the suspect presented a California drivers license or identification card, which had the suspect’s photo and the victim’s personal information printed on it.

During the purchase, surveillance photos were obtained of the female suspect who made the fraudulent purchase. The unidentified female suspect was described broadly in terms of ethnic background, to include either Caucasian or Asian descent.

Anyone with information about this incident or if you know the identity of the female shown in the photographs please contact Detective Elliott at 661-255-1121 or at GAElliot@lasd.org – You can remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org (ref -10526)

Detectives believe the victim could have been targeted due to a similar ethnic background to the female suspect shown in the photographs. Detectives are also investigating the possibility of the female shown in the photograph being connected to other identity theft related crimes.

No further information is being released at this time.