FIVE CANYON COUNTRY WOMEN HELD IN IDENTITY THEFT RING.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Five women have been arrested in the beginning stages of an identity theft investigation that claimed 50 victims in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys and dates back to January 2001, sheriff's officials said.

The women, all from Canyon Country, are accused of driving through residential areas and stealing mail from entire neighborhoods, said Detective Scott Miller. They used the personal information and stolen checks from the mail to make purchases for themselves, he said.

``They would go into a neighborhood and take every single piece of mail,'' Miller said. ``They would look for people who had their red flags up.''

The thieves stole the mail overnight, sorted through it and collected credit card statements, bills and other pieces of mail containing personal information.

``We're finding more and more victims every day,'' Miller said. ``We're working in concert with forgery/fraud detail and comparing cases. A lot of people don't even know that they are victims.''

Using the stolen information, the women would set up credit accounts; cash checks; and make telephone or Internet purchases of computers, computer equipment, high-priced clothing, jewelry and electronics.

``It's all personal gain,'' Miller said. ``There's a rumor that they were hoping to buy a home.''

Much of the mail was found in large trash bags, officials said.

``They kept all of it,'' Miller said. ``They were in the process of disposing it.''

Mickey Collier, 21, and Danielle Zapf, 22, were arrested during the execution of a search warrant Thursday at a Canyon Country mobile-home park.

Kelly Larkin, 29; Crystal Johnson, 18; and a third woman were arrested in late May. Earlier this week, they led deputies to the other suspects.

Officials believe there are more suspects and victims and they are working to identify them.

``We really don't know who all the suspects are,'' Miller said. ``We're just learning now that they are probably all connected.''

Still at large is the man who ran the ring, he said.

``Some crimes are much easily committed by females because they are not questioned as much,'' Miller said.

Collier and Zapf were charged with receiving known stolen property and are being held at the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station in lieu of $20,000 bail. Larkin and Johnson were arrested on suspicion of burglary.