San Mateo police arrest ID theft suspect trying to buy iPhones

(KRON) — A New York man was taken into custody by San Mateo police officers on Monday for his alleged involvement in a mobile identity fraud operation, according to authorities.

The San Mateo Police Department responded just after 2 p.m. on Monday to a Verizon store at 2290 Bridgepointe Parkway on the report of a theft. Officers learned the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Jose Simemorales, allegedly attempted to place an unauthorized order for two Apple iPhones after accessing a Verizon customer’s account.

Simemorales fled from the store in a U-Haul van, which was located with the assistance of a police drone. Officers on the ground initiated a traffic stop and detained the suspect, who was the sole occupant of the van.

A search of the U-Haul uncovered “numerous fictitious identification cards, blank identification cards, an ID card printer, bank cards not belonging to Simemorales, and numerous boxes of unopened iPhones,” San Mateo PD wrote…

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