Authorities look for check forger who went on a $7,000 shopping spree

A Tulsa woman's life is turned upside down because someone stole her checkbook and went on a $7,000 shopping spree and it was caught on videotape. <br/><br/>One of the suspect's many purchases

Wednesday, October 6th 2004, 10:36 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa woman's life is turned upside down because someone stole her checkbook and went on a $7,000 shopping spree and it was caught on videotape.

One of the suspect's many purchases was a $700 gift card at the Lowe's in Bixby. The good news is security officers got great video of her and her blonde wig disguise. As News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains, now you can help stop this criminal's life of lawless luxury.

Sandi has spent the past two months battling angry creditors and persistent collection agencies. That's because, in August, she tucked her purse and checkbook under the seat of her car while she took her boys to Big Splash.

She noticed it was missing right away and canceled her credit cards and froze her bank account, but still, the checks started bouncing, $7,000 worth. "The person went to Lowes, Home Depot, JC Penneys, Garden Ridge, all the major stores, Wal-Mart, Sam's." When the suspect tried to use one of Sandi's checks at the Bixby Lowe's, she raised the suspicions of security and they zoomed in on her face and followed her through the store.

It appears she's wearing a short blonde wig, perhaps to look more like Sandi, whose driverâ€™s license was also stolen. People have no idea how devastating a crime like this can be.

Bixby Police Sgt James Kite: "I don't think the impact is realized until the damage is done. And, the check writers will get calls from creditors for months."

And, each time Sandi gets a call or letter from those stores, she must fax them five different documents, including an affidavit from her bank, her police report and more. The irony is that police don't consider Sandi the victim, but the stores who are out the money. "My identity was stolen so I do consider myself a victim. I wish stores would work on this like they do on shoplifting. She was able to write a thousand dollar check and walk right out the door."

Bixby Police traced the car used at Lowe's. It was rented from Thrifty by a woman who lives in north Tulsa, she does not match the woman on the video, so their best hope of catching her is that someone watching this, recognizes her.

Sandi thinks businesses should require two forms of ID before accepting checks and says more companies need to be like Quik Trip. They have a system that immediately notifies all their stores when something like this happens.

If anyone recognizes the woman in the videotape, they should call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. You can stay anonymous and still get a cash reward.