LAPD Slow to Help in Identity Theft

What was missing from “Identity Theft Tops Fraud Reports” (Jan. 24) is the slow response from local police, in my case, the LAPD. I was a victim of identity theft through the Internet. Electronic checks were used to withdraw money from my checking account and credit cards were applied for.

I was able to obtain the name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the person responsible, but the LAPD officers refused to take the information. They told me I had to receive a victim’s packet first and then provide additional information. Already it has been five weeks since I made the initial report, and I have yet to be contacted by the LAPD. By the time the victim’s packet arrives, the perpetrator will probably be onto his next victim and another identity.

Guyton C. Morales

Los Angeles

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The monetary and psychological harm of identity theft is infinitely compounded by the complete lack of assistance by the three major credit reporting agencies.

These agencies often fail to help or correct their records even when provided with irrefutable evidence that people have been robbed of their money, their credit and their identity. One news story noted that a victim, not the perpetrator, had been arrested for fraud. Law enforcement agencies and credit reporting agencies must cooperate to quickly find the identify thieves and to restore the victim’s identify and credit-worthiness.

David Campbell

Los Angeles