OROVILLE (MNG) — Two people from Chico suspected of involvement in several identity theft cases in Butte County and elsewhere were arrested recently in Clearlake.
Butte County Sheriff”s Office (BCSO) announced the arrests Wednesday in a news release.
The arrests are related to an investigation that began July 25, when a Butte County Sheriff”s deputy took a report of identity theft from a victim in Magalia. Authorities said the first victim”s credit card was used to buy electronics and personal items at several locations in Oroville.
The investigating deputy identified the suspects as Elizabeth Lee Holcraft, 27, an unemployed Chico resident, and Kristopher Thomas Castro, a 20-year-old Chico transient.
The pair appeared Tuesday in Butte County Superior Court where Holcraft faces four additional open felony cases and Castro two.?
In the most recent case, the BCSO alleged Castro and Holcraft moved from hotel to hotel from Reno to Fort Bragg, stealing mail, cashing checks found in the mail, developing credit information on the victims and using the information to obtain goods, services and hotel accommodations.?
Castro and Holcraft also allegedly stole and cashed checks taken from a fire station mailbox in Magalia.
On Aug. 3, Fort Bragg police obtained additional evidence of identify theft by the duo when the suspects left property in a hotel room. Five days later, The BCSO obtained a warrant for Castro”s arrest.?
Castro was arrested by Clearlake Police on Aug. 13 at a hotel. Holcraft was later located at another hotel in Clearlake and was arrested on an unrelated, outstanding drug warrant, according to officials. ?
The BCSO said Holcraft was in possession of computers and personal credit information on numerous additional victims at the time of her arrest.
The two were transferred to Butte County Jail and booked on multiple new charges of burglary and identity theft related to the BCSO and Paradise Police cases.
The U.S. Postal Service inspectors were notified Tuesday and have assumed the investigation into the additional mail theft victims.
Anyone who may be a victim of identity theft by the suspects, subsequent to the pair stealing the victim”s mail, should call the postal inspector toll free at 1-877-876-2455.
That agency will be working to contact remaining victims on whom Castro and Holcraft had identifying information.
The Sheriff”s Office said everyone should routinely check credit reports, and contact creditors and local law enforcement regarding it they”re a victim of identity theft.
Officials also recommend people with curbside mail boxes consider buying U.S. Postal Service-approved locking mailboxes, or use post office boxes to receive mail, to minimize opportunities for credit or identifying information to be stolen.
