Three people are facing multiple charges of identity theft in Portland.
According to Police, officers responded to a shoplifting call at Walmart on Saturday.
The suspects attempted to drive away but were stopped by officers.
That is when one of the suspects used the name of a victim in an ongoing identity theft investigation.
After searching the car, police recovered several pieces of personal information of people from all over the state.
The driver, 34-year-old Stacy Garza of Corpus Christi, and two male passengers, 22-year-old Xavier Garza of Rockport, and 34-year-old of Corpus Christi were arrested.
The investigations lead officers to a storage in Corpus Christi where they found information of more than 45 people.
“I’m talking passports, military ids, stolen department of defense ID’s, 25 social security cards, the actual cards,” says Portland Police Chief Mark Cory.
Police also confiscated credit cards and items to forge checks.
Police Chief Mark Cory says they believe these were crimes of opportunity.
“Most people are not going to break a window or force the door open, but once they get a hold of your id or your weapon, your computer, they can do all sorts of things with it,” says Cory.
They are advising people to keep track of their mail and lock their cars.
Anyone who recently had sensitive information go missing from either their mail or vehicles are encouraged to contact the criminal investigation department.
