Police say ‘Burberry Bandit’ stole local teacher’s identity, then went on a high-end shopping spree
A fraudster dubbed by police as the “Burberry Bandit” bilked a local teacher of more than $40,000, opening credit cards in the victim’s name and spending thousands on high-end handbags and electronics.
Police on Thursday released surveillance photos of the woman and asked for the public’s help in identifying her.
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The suspect’s five-day shopping spree — which started on April 1 — stretched across the Southland, from Bloomingdale’s in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza to Sports Chalet in La Cañada and the Apple store in Pasadena.
In one day, she reportedly spent $12,000 at three stores, including $3,600 on a Burberry handbag and wallet from Nordstrom in Torrance.
The next day, she bought a $2,600 Burberry purse and wallet from Bloomingdale’s in Beverly Hills, which she later returned to buy a Louis Vuitton handbag from the department store’s Costa Mesa location.
On day five, she conned a Chase Bank worker into giving her a new debit card in the teacher’s name, and later cashed bogus checks and made ATM withdrawals of more than $30,000 at banks in La Cañada, Tujunga, Glendale and Burbank.
That day, a Chase Bank worker reportedly alerted the victim’s husband. The victim subsequently called Burbank police.
Police described the suspected thief as a heavy-set white woman with short dark hair, who stood roughly 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Burbank Police Sgt. Mark Stohl at (818) 238-3272. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
