CRIME

Over 100 Arrested in NYC Theft Ring

Allegedly stole identities from foreign tourists, New Yorkers.

New York police said Friday that they have charged 111 people for involvement in an identity-theft ring that has sneakily reached into the wallets of thousands of New York residents as well as tourists from China, Europe, and the Middle East since 2010. The racket involved mostly restaurant workers, bank tellers, and retailers in Queens who allegedly copied and sold the credit-card numbers of their employers’ patrons. The thieves had expensive taste, racking up over $13 million in charges on high-end electronics, jewelry, and bags as well as hotel rooms, private jets, and expensive cars. Police said that 86 people were in custody and five separate criminal enterprises have been shut down.