San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested a 21-year-old woman Thursday after she was seen acting suspiciously in the San Carlos Best Buy store.
Robinique Manuel of Oakland was charged with three counts of identify theft, and one charge of bringing an illegal substance into a jail. Sheriff's deputies say Manuel's arrest came after a concerned citizen contacted the Sheriff’s Office advising a woman was acting suspiciously inside Best Buy.
Deputies from the San Carlos Patrol Bureau responded to the scene and contacted Manuel and two accomplices in the area. An investigation turned up debit cards, gift cards, and a California driver’s license, all of which sheriff's officials say appeared to have been fraudulently altered.
Additionally, Manuel was found to have two outstanding warrants for her arrest. Manuel was transported to the Maguire Correctional Facility for booking, where it was discovered she had transported marijuana into the jail, resulting an additional felony charge of bringing an illegal substance into the jail.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office offers these safety tips to avoid identity theft:
- Shred items which list your personal information. This includes; mail, canceled checks, bank statements, and credit reports.
- Check your credit reports annually to watch for fraudulent use. You are entitled to one free credit report each year, and can subscribe to credit monitoring companies.
- Do not store birth certificates, social security cards in your wallet. These items can be used to access your bank, and credit cards.
- Do not list driver’s license, social security, or telephone numbers on checks.
- Call 911 to report suspicious behavior
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