Store employees thwart identity thief

A man suspected of using stolen credit cards and personal checks to make purchases from a Northern California Home Depot was arrested after sales associates noticed a variety of credit card orders were being shipped to the same residence, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Richard Griffin, age 42, allegedly bought equipment from a Home Depot in San Rafael using credit card account info stolen from victims in Tiburon, San Rafael and Pleasanton, as well as checks from a person in Novato.

The suspect made the orders by phone, sometimes saying that a different person besides the cardholder would pick up the merchandise, according to authorities. Griffin also requested the items be delivered to a home in Richmond, investigators said. He allegedly racked up more than $25,000 in purchases. 

Sales associates at Home Depot notified police after they noticed that all the calls came from the same phone number and the purchases were being delivered to the same address. 

A seven-month investigation ensued. The Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force arrested Griffin just before Christmas and found him in possession of a fake California driver's license and 10 stolen credit cards, according to authorities. 

Griffin is being held at the Marin County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.