On 03-03-16 at approximately 9:50 a.m. we received a report that multiple cars had been broken into at the Rams Athletic Complex located at 23 Concord Street.
Responding officers identified six vehicles that had their side windows smashed in by thieves and their valuables stolen from within. Unattended purses and electronics inside of the vehicles were the primary targets of thieves. All of the victims were identified as patrons to the athletic facility and they were inside the building at the time of the breaks. A witness observed a suspect vehicle and two suspect’s description which was later passed on to police.
The subsequent investigation into the car breaks has identified a national organized crime ring known as the “Felony Lane Gang” as most likely responsible for the crimes.
According to homeinvasion.com “In the last two years, an organized form of car burglary has been practiced and perfected by a “gang” of professional thieves working up and down the East Coast from Florida to Connecticut and as far west as Chicago, Milwaukee, Nebraska, and Missouri.
Dubbed The Felony Lane Gang by law enforcement, gang members troll public parking lots frequented by women who might leave their purses and ID in the car upon parking. Public parks, gyms, swimming pools, daycare centers, and churches have all been popular targets for The Felony Lane Gang.
Who Are These People? Police say a number of different groups have morphed out of the original “Felony Lane Gang,” which is believed to have been recruited in Florida, and includes up to 100 members, both men and women.
A Gang, Only Different “These crooks are not part of a gang in the traditional sense; it’s not organized like the Mafia, says Elm Grove (Wis.) Police Lt. Jason Hennen.
Having worked several “Felony Lane Gang” cases, Hennen says, “These “gangs” work in a group of six to nine. The men are the pros who do the work day in and day out. They make sure they insulate themselves by committing the smash-and-grabs needed to steal checks and photo IDs, a misdemeanor charge if they get nabbed … They recruit strangers, often women, with the lure of a quick buck and send them into the view of surveillance cameras to commit felonies by forging and passing bogus checks … When the men break into cars, they target women at daycare centers, swimming pools, gyms — places where victims are more likely to leave their purses. That ensures that a woman will have to impersonate the victim … The females are disposable; If (the women) get caught, the men just leave.”
Different But the Same Though every similar crime may not be committed by members of the original Felony Lane Gang, such tactics as the following characterize the crimes: Male gang members steal purses from cars and then pass checks and ID to female gang members who go to banks and cash checks. Police say the check cashers wear wigs and makeup and drive through the lane farthest away from the teller where they’re less likely to be recognized.
Escambia County Florida Sheriff David Morgan said authorities gave them the name because of their use of the outer lane of drive-through banks to pass fraudulent checks. “They pull to the outside lane of the drive-through of the bank where they’re the farthest from the teller. Often, the lane’s don’t have camera coverage and you can’t see well into the vehicle or see the tag on the car,” Morgan said.
Officials said members of the group often commit burglaries and steal ID’s, credit cards and print fake checks to the sum of hundreds of dollars. They said the gang pulls off these crimes throughout the country. “They hit different communities and move along. It’s a moving target. If they stay very long in one place, it gives law enforcement the chance to move in and make the arrest,” says Sheriff Morgan.”
During the NRPD investigation into the car breaks we have determined that there was an attempt to cash one of the victim’s checks in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. This information was consistent with the gang moving up interstate I-95. Last week in Salem, New Hampshire, several suspected members of the gang were arrested see attached Lawrence Eagle Article for more information. Salem NH Police Felony Lane Gang Arrests Article
What You Can Do
Protect your valuables. In the Rams car breaks, the victims had locked their cars only to find that the thieves had easily gained entry by smashing their car windows, most likely with a tool designed for that purpose. If possible, take valuables with you inside your destination or leave them at home. Professionals like these are targeting you and they know your routines. Secondly, be vigilant. If you see suspicious activity, report it, write down license plates or descriptions of suspicious persons and vehicles. If it’s safe to do so take a photo. Stopping these professional thieves absolutely takes the assistance of our citizens. A seemingly small piece of information could be the vital tip that cracks a case and stops a gang like this in its tracks.
Always remember to call 911 if you see suspicious activity and report it!