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Theft from vehicle sparks identity theft

West Shore RCMP arrest suspect

A 2010 theft of an iPod from the unlocked vehicle of an Oak Bay couple resulted in their becoming the victims of a second crime.

In early November, police received a complaint that someone had accessed the couple’s Air Miles account and had used the credits for unauthorized purchases.

When the resident conducted a credit check on himself, he learned that someone had also opened an account in his wife’s name using the couple’s personal information.

In an unrelated investigation, West Shore RCMP and the Regional Crime Unit conducted a search of a Colwood residence and found a series of credit card and air points card numbers, along with their PIN numbers – including those of the Oak Bay resident – in the possession of a 28-year-old West Shore resident. Police discovered that the local couple’s personal information had been gleaned from the stolen iPod.

The suspect, Derek Fast, was taken into custody and charged with identity theft.

Police are using this event to remind residents to lock vehicles and remove valuables from parked cars. They also recommend against storing financial and personal information on electronic devices.