Beaverton police arrested three people for shoplifting Sunday and seized more than $26,000 in property, gift cards and cash in an elaborate identity theft ring.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, a police sergeant pulled over a vehicle reportedly involved in shoplifting incidents at nearby Best Buy and Nordstrom stores, said Mike Rowe of the Beaverton Police Department.
Investigators searched the vehicle and the hotel room where the suspects were staying and turned up $20,000 in stolen property, $5,000 to $10,000 in gift cards, $1,500 cash and more than 100 counterfeit credit cards, Rowe said.
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The three suspects spent the day moving north from California, using counterfeit credit cards at several stores in Springfield, Salem, Tualatin, Tigard and Beaverton before they were caught, Rowe said.
“The suspects were buying iPads, iPad minis, iPhones, gift cards, money orders, and high-end clothing,” Rowe said.
Montral Demond Matthews (pictured, center), 27, Melissa Vongphakdy (pictured, right), 22, and Linda Vongphakdy, 24, all from California, were each jailed on charges of aggravated identity theft, organized retail crime, aggravated theft and other crimes.
