SF woman snags identity thief, on foot

June 15, 2007 7:32 PM

When Karen Lodrick turned away from ordering her latte at the Starbucks at Church and Market streets, there it was, slung over the arm of the woman behind her... a "beaucoup expensive" light-brown suede coat with faux fur trim at the collar, cuffs and down the middle. The only other time Lodrick had seen that particular coat was on a security camera photo that her bank, Wells Fargo, showed her of the woman who had stolen her identity. The photo was taken as the thief was looting Lodrick's checking account. And thus a foot chase towards justice began. (via the Consumerist)
posted by daninnj (56 comments total)

She was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn to the 44 days she had already served in county jail and three years' probation.

Ugh.
posted by kbanas at 7:40 PM on June 15, 2007

One irony, and there were many -- for instance, the woman posing as Karen Lodrick also had ordered a latte

get the fuck outta town, that's just crazy. wow, who'd a thunk, a latte!!!
posted by andywolf at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]

Yeah, aside from the ridiculously light punishment (what's up with that?), that's a perfect story. Thanks for the post.
posted by dhammond at 7:41 PM on June 15, 2007

Great story, and I agree with the others that the sentence is ridiculous... Become an identity thief and receive months and months of free money, clothing and jewels for a sentence of probation... Sign me up.
posted by amyms at 7:47 PM on June 15, 2007

Too bad she didn't have some coke in her purse. Then they would have put her in for years, not days.
posted by caddis at 7:50 PM on June 15, 2007 [4 favorites]

Somebody want to get the SSN of the judge?
posted by spock at 7:56 PM on June 15, 2007

Ballsy . . . I hope I'd have the guts to do the same in her shoes.
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:58 PM on June 15, 2007

Wow, you can break the law while on probation....and just get more probation?

Government contractors are selling fake id elements on the black market?

Great story, except for the gross government incompetence. At least the cop showed up within an hour and didn't shoot the victim.
posted by parallax7d at 8:27 PM on June 15, 2007

Identity thieves: Cultivate anonymity!

(however much you want to wear the new leather {1200 dollar bustier that lifts and separates} to the bank).
posted by longsleeves at 8:29 PM on June 15, 2007

I don't understand how someone breaks their probation and doesn't have to serve time. Was it because she hadn't technically committed any new crime?
posted by mathowie at 8:53 PM on June 15, 2007

I saw this on another site (*cough* /. *cough*) today - what a ludicrous sentence.

Did you see all the time she had to spend clearing this crap up? About two days a week for eons - and the perp just targeted her AGAIN.

Though I did wonder, after the first mail theft, why she didn't get a P.O. box...
posted by Liosliath at 8:55 PM on June 15, 2007

Obviously she's getting special treatment because she's a celebrity/socialite.
posted by stavrogin at 9:03 PM on June 15, 2007

Why oh why. Coincidence does not equal irony.

(This seems especially difficult for a lot of Americans, for some reason.)

But good story otherwise.
posted by wilful at 9:08 PM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

I don't understand how someone breaks their probation and doesn't have to serve time. Was it because she hadn't technically committed any new crime?

Word. Any lawyers in the house want to try to explain the reasoning behind this sentence?
posted by Methylviolet at 9:15 PM on June 15, 2007

All that work for a suspended sentence? And she was on fucking probation at the time?

Colour me sick. Guess the jails are all full of pot dealers.

Big props to the woman who caught her though.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:21 PM on June 15, 2007 [2 favorites]

There's got to be more to the plea bargain and sentencing than the article lets on. I just can't believe the judge would be so stupid.
posted by mediareport at 9:21 PM on June 15, 2007

Any lawyers in the house want to try to explain the reasoning behind this sentence?

IANAL, but my guess is that it would be related to prison overcrowding. Our prisons are overflowing with people accused and convicted of drug-related offenses, so a relatively "minor" crime such as identity theft where there was no physical injury and the victim was merely inconvenienced (the bank eventually made her whole, after having her jump through a bunch of hoops) doesn't seem to rate.

I'm sure the thinking is that it would be better jail someone who's selling grass to cancer patients. After all, he or she is the real threat to society, right?
posted by mstefan at 9:24 PM on June 15, 2007

I love how the cops tried to recruit her. Are they doing a membership drive or something? This is like me reaching over in the stands to make a great catch of a foul ball, and Charlie Manuel popping up and asking me down into the dugout.

Although I always imagine this could actually happen if my catch were amazing enough.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:24 PM on June 15, 2007 [2 favorites]

A relieved Lodrick laughed out loud, surprising herself. "You idiot," she said to Nelson. "You should have run."

That's pretty awesome right there.

I wanted to see read about Nelson kicking the shit out of the thief, but a wicked burn will do. I wanted to read about the mail-stealing cunt getting sent up the river to break rocks til her grandkids grew up, but that light little sentence really ain't doing it - though the writer uses the word, "justice" is no where to be found here.
posted by EatTheWeak at 9:24 PM on June 15, 2007

Duh. Nelson IS the thief. Whoops.

I wanted to see read about Lodrick kicking the shit out of the thief

there. fixed that for ... uh ..me.
posted by EatTheWeak at 9:26 PM on June 15, 2007

A relieved Lodrick laughed out loud, surprising herself. "You idiot," she said to Nelson. "You should have run."

That's pretty awesome right there.

Yeah, and then she barfed. Even more awesome. Barf is awesome.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:29 PM on June 15, 2007

Well - the story says she served 44 days in jail prior to the sentence. I don't know if California is exactly the same as Canada, where I practice, but chances are good that serving time before the conviction (via guilty plea in this case) is increased to reflect a few factors (no earned remission, no programs, etc) that generally make pre-sentence custody "harder" than post sentence custody. Accordingly, her 44 days was likely the equivalent of a 2-3 month jail sentence, in addition to the probation that was tacked on. I won't comment on whether that is an appropriate sentence or not, since I don't know the full circumstances of the offender, nor the general guidelines that apply to this sort of offence in that jurisdiction.

She had definitely committed a new crime, and that is what she was sentenced for - the story didn't say if she was charged with the separate offence of breaching probation (it is unusual here to charge the breach in addition to the new crime).

Hope that clarifies just a little.
posted by birdsquared at 9:34 PM on June 15, 2007

44 days served and probation? How about a good sized fine, at least a couple years jail, followed by indentured servitude to Lodrick. Oh yeah and she totally gets to wear one of the tracking anklets for a decade.
posted by MrBobaFett at 9:39 PM on June 15, 2007

"Why oh why. Coincidence does not equal irony.

(This seems especially difficult for a lot of Americans, for some reason.)"

Oh God, not the old chestnut of "Americans don't understand X." How tedious. I'm laughing at you with my bright shiny American teeth.

Here's a joke for you, though, with the coincidence it's set in SF [gasp] :

SAN FRANCISCO MAN BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN TO GRASP SIGNIFICANCE OF IRONY - Jay Fullmer, 38, yesterday became the first American to get to grips with the concept of irony. "It was weird" Fullmer said. "I was in London and like, talking to this guy and it was raining and he pulled a face and said, "great weather, eh?" and I thought "wait a minute, no way is it great weather". Fullmer then realised that the other man's 'mistake' was in fact deliberate. Fullmer, who is 39 next month and married with two children, aged 8 and 3, plans to use irony himself in future. "I'm like using it all the time" he said. "Last weekend I was grilling steaks and I burned them to sh!t and I said "hey, great weather!".
posted by Liosliath at 9:42 PM on June 15, 2007 [13 favorites]

In my darkest moments, it's always comforting to reflect on the fact that a life of crime without the possibility of significant consequences is always open to me, and that I will be nurtured and cherished in the bosom of the law. As long as I don't do anything really bad, like smoke marijuana or something.
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:43 PM on June 15, 2007 [2 favorites]

Good story, very unsatisfying ended. I would've liked to see the identity theft publicly beaten, or at least publicly humiliated. Sounds like she got off way too easy.
posted by Zephyrial at 9:46 PM on June 15, 2007

Er, ending. Very unsatisfying ending.
posted by Zephyrial at 9:46 PM on June 15, 2007

Identity THIEF. Another typo... I fail at commenting after midnight. =(
posted by Zephyrial at 9:47 PM on June 15, 2007

Identity thieves: Cultivate anonymity!

Absolutely. Plain blue jeans, logo-free sweatshirt, no jewellery, plain sunglasses, plain headwear to cover hair. There's a reason why criminal homie types all wear the same generic kinds of sneakers, tracksuit pants & hoodies.

This woman was obviously a bit of an idiot.

I think there's a bit of a truism about fraud that what undoes fraudsters is when they start getting greedy. The offender probably could have milked the victim of $100 or so every other week (matching her withdrawal patterns & locations) and she would probably have never been the wiser.

Do that to enough victims at once & you're set. Apart from the fact that this kind of minor milking is harder to notice, the banks etc are gonna be far less likely to seriously follow up a missing $100 than a missing $9000, and nor is the victim, even if they notice it.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:52 PM on June 15, 2007

infinitywaltz - perhaps is Lodrick had thought to aim a little better at that moment, this story would have a more satisfying ending.
posted by EatTheWeak at 10:03 PM on June 15, 2007

Glad we have a PO Box. Have had since I moved out of my parents house...I've found opened bills along roads while walking more times than I can remember.

Banks should have to pay a $100K penalty for every unsolicited offer they send out which is compromised.
posted by maxwelton at 10:06 PM on June 15, 2007

You know, that really does describe the San Francisco sense of humor pretty well.
Sorry, but there's an incredible lack of funny people here.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:05 PM on June 15, 2007

" Nelson was delivered to the Yolo County sheriff on another outstanding fraud-related warrant after she was sentenced in San Francisco." so it was off to face another Judge in another county for another crime, I'll bet she did jail time in Yolo.
posted by hortense at 11:36 PM on June 15, 2007

I agree the sentence was utterly inadequate. Despite this being allegedly liberal ole MetaFilter, that's clearly our view.

I'm working on a prison reform policy: lemme run it by you. Sentences should be proportional to the actual harm done, plus any previous same-category offences, times the risk of doing it again. A chart for each, see where it fits. Over a certain threshold, it's life-means-life. Any financial or property damage done must be repaid in full, with interest, too.

So, for example, dealing pot harms no-one. Even though they're likely to do it again, they don't go to jail.

Abduction and murder = massive harm, and even if a shrink says unlikely to reoffend, that's over the threshold by my system. A so-called "Cheerio" offence.

Nelson here did real harm to someone, not permanent, but substantial. Add in her previous, multiply by the near certainty of her repeating it, and I calculate (taps keys frantically) she'd do about 3 years.
posted by imperium at 2:23 AM on June 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

maxwelton wrote: Glad we have a PO Box.

I've had mail stolen from a PO Box. The heavy metal door provided strong purchase for the attacker's crowbar. They hit every medium and large box on the wall. Fortunately I had retrieved my bank statements and a new credit card two days prior.
posted by ryanrs at 3:45 AM on June 16, 2007

imperium, you might like this book which is available as text, here.
posted by dobbs at 7:32 AM on June 16, 2007

Another typo... I fail at commenting after midnight. =(

At least your typos form actual words. I'm usually not so lucky.

I've had mail stolen from a PO Box. The heavy metal door provided strong purchase for the attacker's crowbar. They hit every medium and large box on the wall.

Glad I have the smallest size of P.O. box.
posted by oaf at 7:46 AM on June 16, 2007

I'm barfing on the prose. This really is the worst crime procedural I've ever read. It's as if Mike Weiss is pitching Lifetime a plot for the worst fucking Original Movie ever.
posted by litfit at 7:47 AM on June 16, 2007

Goddam English major. Aren't you late for work at Burger King?
posted by spock at 8:47 AM on June 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

Neuroscience, and I just can't stand shoddy work, sensationalism, or Star Trek.
posted by litfit at 9:06 AM on June 16, 2007

What, no federal conviction for mail theft? < *insert office space joke here*>
posted by jopreacher at 11:14 AM on June 16, 2007

So what was with this woman's coat? Was it in the mailbox?

Yours Sincerely
Columbo
posted by popkinson at 11:27 AM on June 16, 2007

"This woman -- a big woman, about 5 feet 10, maybe 150 pounds"

Now, I've chased criminals down in the streets of San Francisco myself to similar results--a stranger on the street punched me in the mouth for sharing the sidewalk with him. Although he was on probation, he received very little punishment. My 911 call and chase ended when I lost the perp going underground to the train station.

When the police finally arrived, their first question was, "So, was he your boyfriend?" Later, someone told me I should've said "yes!", because the SFPD has a tidy little domestic violence program, and they'd have actually pursued some harsher charge against him. Then, on top of the victim drama, I could've told my mother I had a boyfriend. As it stood, later in the day I had to wrestle the guy down on the train platform and have BART police arrest him for me--which earned me a stern lecture from the SFPD when they finally showed up a half hour later.

I guess it wasn't as newsworthy as this woman's story. But if I've learned anything from this experience and reading this article, it is first that I am a big woman, and second that identity comes cheap. Next time I get punched in the mouth walking to work, I'll try carrying a Prada wallet. I just might be someone's hero.
posted by eegphalanges at 12:01 PM on June 16, 2007

With this cost/benefit ratio, any career choice other than identity thief just doesn't make sense.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 12:01 PM on June 16, 2007

I love how the cops tried to recruit her. Are they doing a membership drive or something?
It's not even funny how desperate San Francisco is for good cops. We have some of the most stupid and frighteningly inept people carrying guns and badges in this city. Not corrupt, just stupid.
posted by matt_od at 3:22 PM on June 16, 2007

What, no federal conviction for mail theft?

First thing I thought. Someone should have called the Postal Inspectors. (sounds like a group of superheros...)
posted by Robert Angelo at 4:23 PM on June 16, 2007

SFPD are seriously the most inept cops I've ever seen. The only way a crime gets solved IS by the victim chasing someone down themselves.
posted by miss lynnster at 4:50 PM on June 16, 2007

What, no federal conviction for mail theft?

That's astonishing, since I heard you could get 4 years for willfully misreporting yoour SSN. That identity shit must have steeper penalties...
posted by vhsiv at 5:28 PM on June 16, 2007

Miss Lynnster: You know, that really does describe the San Francisco sense of humor pretty well.
Sorry, but there's an incredible lack of funny people here.

Hahahahah!
Wait, what? You are joking, right?
posted by Pronoiac at 12:14 AM on June 19, 2007

Oh how I desperately wish I was. I honestly haven't met many. I've met a lot of people who seem to think they're funny but take themselves way too seriously, though. One of the key reasons I keep posting AskMe questions wondering about places to meet new people... I know there have to be funny people here SOMEWHERE. Under some rock in Golden Gate Park or something.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:48 AM on June 19, 2007

I'm sending an email...
posted by Pronoiac at 1:02 AM on June 19, 2007

pronoiac: the universe is conspiring to shower you with blessings
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:42 AM on June 19, 2007

Ubu: Exactly! Whoops - I have yet to explain that on my profile page.
posted by Pronoiac at 12:43 AM on June 22, 2007

Wait, were you sending me an e-mail? If so I think it got caught in my spam filter.

FWIW, I do think one of my main impressions of there not being many funny people is that I have spent too much time so far working in Palo Alto. Palo Alto is definitely not funny. I wasn't trying to offend anyone.
posted by miss lynnster at 3:54 AM on June 22, 2007

Lynnster: Huh? You already replied to my email...

I wasn't offended. I was oddly defensive, I think.

I"m going to blather more in email.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:52 PM on June 22, 2007

Oh, okay I do remember that! I think when I got that other e-mail I thought you were writing me about an AskMe I did. That's why I wrote back kinda confused. Then I just saw these comments yesterday so I didn't put 2 & 2 together. Because my brain is fried.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:54 PM on June 22, 2007