Deputies round up suspected ID thieves in Tampa

TAMPA - A bold group of thieves detectives called the Felony Lane Gang have been detoured to jail.

"We don't know them here because they're not from here," said Corp. Kevin Bodie from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives say the group has been busy operating their scam in Tampa, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale.

According to investigators, the group was breaking into cars and stealing purses, looking for checkbooks, credit cards, and IDs.

Detectives tracked the suspects to a Bank of America on North Dale Mabry, where they were allegedly trying to cash stolen checks. Inside the car, detectives found 19 different stolen IDs along with wigs and disguises deputies say were used by the thieves to look like their victims. The group, investigators say, worked quickly.

"Like we would call a 'stop and rob' with a convenience store, this is the same thing," said Bodie. "Once they do the burglary, they are off to the bank so they can hit it before you realize you've been victimized."

The group was dubbed the Felony Lane Gang because they would use the outside lane of a bank drive-thru so they couldn't be easily seen by the bank teller.

Now that the suspected thieves have been caught, investigators say the public has to do their part and avoid becoming easy targets.

"People will leave their purses, their computer bags, their briefcases in the front seat or back seat of the vehicle," Bodie explained. "These people are just asking for their stuff to be stolen. What they need to do is put those items in the trunk of their car. That way, they [the items] are more secure, they're not visible to somebody that walks by."

The suspects face a number of charges that include grand theft, auto burglary, and identity theft.