Police Say Gold Thief Used Stolen Identities to Cash In

Police break up a coast-to-coast fraud from Florida to Connecticut. It is part of a growing trend--using stolen identities to steal 14-carat gold.

"It is very hard to trace gold, unless it is engraved or named." said Port St. Lucie Police Detective Tim Hurd.

But this time police say they were able to track down the stolen gold.

Police say 56 year-old Patrick Crowe used real checks he got using stolen identities. Crowe would then manufacture companies, getting licenses with stolen information, and then opening business checking accounts.

Crowe would concoct some believable tales, pulling up in his Lexus, police later said he did not really own the car, to buy gold.

St. Lucie Jeweler manager Alana Polega help sell Crowe a few items, "An engagement ring and a chain for a neice or something," she said. "Whenever there's a market like that there's always a certain amount of theiving and stealing."

Every check Crowe wrote St. Lucie Jewelers in Port St. Lucie bounced, but not before he walked out with gold.

  "When he came in, he made a purchase and he used a check that was on an account up north," Polega said, "and then he closed the account, so that left us with the bad check."

Police say Crowe took St. Lucie Jewelers for $700. Police said Crowe kept the game going again and again in Naples, Fort Lauderdale, even while visiting relatives in Connecticut.

"He would purchase a high-end item and then wither pawn it or sell it for the cash value--that is why he would target gold--because gold is so expensive right now," said Det. Hurd. 

The Golden game ended in St. Lucie West this week. Kimberly Reiger of Kimberly and Co. asked Crowe to come back to the store after Reiger had some questions about those checks he used to buy a necklace.

Had she ever had somebody return after paying with a fake check? "No." Reiger said, and he brought the necklace with him.

Police were waiting for Crowe at the store.

Detectives say they are now tracking down many more just like him getting in on the gold rush and then selling those items at a rock bottom price that is too good to be legal.