Inola Authorities Investigate Tag Agency Break In

Thursday, March 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Authorities in Inola are trying to solve a tag agency break-in. Someone stole all the tools needed to make drivers licenses. Everything from the laminator to the agency's unique seal.

The agency says thieves stole enough film to make 800 fake ID's.

Police don't know whether someone hopes to sell licenses to underage drinkers, illegal immigrants or terrorists.

If you have any information, call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

The News On Six talked with Inola Police Chief Les Wilmot about the break-in.

He says after information aired in yesterday's newscasts, investigators received several tips.

The 300 tag agencies in Oklahoma are all individually owned and operated. Which means there are likely 300 different ways of making sure valuable equipment is secure. Tammy Grant, Title Clerk: "Each office sets up its own security system. Some are a little more detailed than others, it's up to the agent if they have a detailed one or a simple one."

The Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Tax Commission hope those agencies choose the "detailed" systems. They recommend separating and securing equipment - meaning at night, lenses may be dismantled from cameras and hidden - or laminating machines are kept stored away under lock and key away from drivers license cards.

Anne Jones, Tag Agent: "We have a security system in place. It's a monitor system that calls police if we have a problem. We also dismantle our cameras and lock up our securities at night."

The Oklahoma Tax Commission and DPS hold training sessions once a year to teach ways of making it more difficult for burglars hoping to get what they need to make fake id's.

Many burglars target tag offices to help get what they need to make fake ID's... to either pass bad checks or to get credit cards.

Anyone convicted of making fake ID's could get a $5,000 fine - and spend five years in jail.