Crime Report: Farmington Residents Report Identity Thefts

Over the past two weeks, two Farmington residents have reported incidents of identity theft to the .

On May 24, a resident told police someone opened credit accounts in her name, and changed information on an existing account, between May 11 and 12. According to the report, items totaling more than $9,000 were charged at metro area Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Macy's, Sears, Home Depot and MicroCenter stores. The report indicated that the person who opened the accounts used a phone number that police traced back to another woman who filed an identity theft report in Warren in 2010. 

In another incident reported May 18, a case of identity theft that a mother thought was resolved years ago may be connected to a current case involving her 22-year-old daughter, who lives in Farmington. According to the report, the daughter, a recent college graduate, told police that she was unable to open an account at a credit union in January, because of reports that she had passed insufficient funds checks. She told police that several years ago, her mother was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service after someone else filed a fraudulent tax return that used the 22-year-old's Social Security number to claim her as a dependent. The Social Security Administration (SSA) informed the woman that someone from Texas has been using her Social Security card. The woman was required to file a police report as part of the SSA's investigation, the report indicated. 

Alcohol-related arrests

A 39-year-old Farmington Hills man faces drunken driving and driving with a suspended license charges, after another Farmington Hills resident reported seeing a vehicle weaving all over the road just after 1 a.m. on Monday. According to the report, an officer spoke with the driver after the vehicle pulled into a convenience store parking lot at 9 Mile and Farmington Roads. The driver told the officer he left a Farmington Hills hotel to pick up more beer. A preliminary breath test showed the man's blood alcohol level was .11, more than the .08 legal limit. The report indicated a background check showed one prior drunken driving conviction in 2009 and a current license suspension. 

A 40-year-old White Lake man faces charges after an officer spotted open containers of beer in his vehicle after a May 22 traffic stop at Pickett and Grand River. According to the report, the officer saw the vehicle crossing the center line on Shiawassee and noticed it had a cracked windshield and inoperable brake light. A preliminary breath test showed the man's blood alcohol was .005, less than the .08 legal limit. A check of the man's background showed he was on parole, with the condition that he not consume alcohol. 

A 28-year-old Farmington Hills man found lying on the pavement in a parking lot in the area of Grand River and Farmington Road faces charges after resisting arrest during an incident on May 20. According to the report, police responded to a call at around 6:20 p.m. from a woman who found the man and feared he would get into his vehicle and drive away. As police arrived, the man had grabbed the woman's arm, and he fought with officers as they attempted to take him into custody, the report indicated. A breath test taken later showed the man's blood alcohol was .39, which is nearly five times the .08 legal limit for driving. 

A 53-year-old Novi man who refused a preliminary breath test after a traffic stop at M-5 and Farmington Rd. early May 20 faces a drunken driving charge. According to the report, the man told the officer he had a concealed pistol license, had a gun in the vehicle and had been eating a chicken dinner, which the officer saw in a carryout box on the passenger seat. The man also had pills in his pocket, including vicodin, which he said were prescribed for a medical condition. Police confiscated two handguns that were in the man's vehicle, the report indicated. 

Quick change scam

A downtown Farmington business is out about $60, after a "quick change" artist gave a clerk a $20 bill for a beverage purchase around 2:45 p.m. on May 23. According to the report, after the clerk gave the man his change, he said he meant to pay with a $5 bill and after some confusing exchanges, walked out with the additional cash. The report indicated the same man attempted a similar scam at the , but was unsuccessful. 

Theft

A resident on Grand River called police shortly after 12:30 a.m. on May 19, after finding the tailgate from his pick-up truck had been stolen. According to the report, the man told police the 1997 Dodge Ram was parked under a light in front of the man's residence. 

For more information about any of these reports, contact editor Joni Hubred-Golden, joni.hubred-golden@patch.com.