Two people are in custody after some quick work by Burnaby Mounties last week.
Police received a call from a local hotel at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 30. The hotel contacted Burnaby's economic crime unit to report that a fraudulent credit card had been used to make a purchase at the facility, stated a press release from the Burnaby RCMP.
Investigators determined a suspect had checked into the hotel using an allegedly stolen identification and credit card. Police contacted the owner of the credit card, a Florida resident, who confirmed she did not use the card in Burnaby, the release added.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Mounties arrested a suspect in connection to the fraudulent credit card and less an hour later a second and third suspect were also arrested and taken into custody.
"This was a perfect storm of circumstances where the police worked very closely with businesses to stop these people from committing further fraud. Our investigators didn't hesitate and within a few hours these people were arrested," said Insp. Bob Page, Burnaby RCMP's investigative services officer, in the release.
Police have since confirmed fraudulent charges were made at two high-end Vancouver hotels and a hotel in Kelowna, along with the charges in Burnaby, using several allegedly stolen credit cards, the release noted.
"It's believed the suspect booked into the hotels using stolen B.C. driver's licences and fraudulent credit cards, from multiple victims. (The suspect) is also alleged to have fraudulently rented four different vehicles. All four vehicles have since been recovered by police," the release added.
Several allegedly stolen credit cards, fake IDs, gift cards, rental agreements, a computer, storage devices and fake government cheques were found following a search of one of the hotel rooms rented using the fraudulent credit cards, the release stated.
Burnaby RCMP arrested two men, aged 28 and 29, and a 26-year-old woman. They are all facing several fraud charges related to fraud, including identity theft, fraud over $5,000, and possession of stolen property under $5,000.
The men will remain in custody until their next court appearance on Oct. 14 in Vancouver provincial court. The woman, meanwhile, was released and will make her next court appearance on Oct. 30, also in Vancouver.
