By CHAD VAN ESTROP
POLICE are warning people to report lost identification immediately, after more than $200,000 was stolen from a Dandenong man earlier this year.
In what police have called ‘‘identity theft’’, a male is his late 20s withdrew a cheque from the victim’s account using the victim’s learner’s permit on March 12.
Later that day the cheque was deposited in an account falsely established in the victim’s name.
Three days later the cheque was withdrawn as cash.
Detective Senior Constable Kane Taylor of Greater Dandenong CIU said the account was opened on March 4, the same day the victim lost his identification.
The man police want to speak with is of southern European appearance and was wearing workman’s clothes and a baseball cap when he entered the Lonsdale Street bank.
Police say the he used the victim’s identity on three separate occasions between May 4 and 12.
Detective Senior Constable Taylor said the theft was targeted.
‘‘For someone to go in and withdraw this amount of money they would have to know the victim had this amount of cash in their bank account.’’
The offender was not known to the victim.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
