36 arrested in fraud case that began in Richland, Washington. An 11-week investigation into a criminal enterprise responsible for ID thefts and fraud in the Tri-Cities netted 36 arrests, nearly 25 grams of drugs and $66,000 in cash. Richland police’s Street Crimes Unit began investigating a fraud case in September after someone tried to use a suspicious gift card at a Les Schwab tire store in Richland. A total of 36 arrests were made initially, including one for armed robbery, 17 for ID theft/forgery/fraud, six for drugs and 11 for warrants. Charges were filed against 15 additional suspects identified through the investigation, and there’s still a potential for more. Nine homes and five vehicles were searched, while two cell phones were traced. (Source keprtv.com)

Kentucky Pawn Shops in the Middle of Gift Card Crime. Organized retail investigators now have one more avenue to research, pawn shops that are accepting gift cards for 50% of face value from possible thieves. Some pawn shop owners are stopping the practice of buying the cards until law enforcement can research the laws regarding their purchase and re-sale. Other Pawn shop owners found out that the thieves were using the card’s information that had been written down, for online purchases after it had been sold to the pawn shop. Many Pawn shops around the US accept and resell gift cards. (Source wsaz.com)