Published July 31 2014
Bellevue police have arrested a prolific identity thief with the help of an observant citizen. The citizen saw an image of the suspect, Patrick McCabe, on the episode of Washington's Most Wanted, which aired on July 19. As a result of the tip, investigators were led to a residence in the Tri Cities area. McCabe was arrested on Wednesday,July 30, by the Tri-Cities fugitive task force, and will be transported to Bellevue, where he will face charges related to an identity theft and fraud ring.
On July 3, a resident at the Hidden Creek Condominiums in the 800 block of 126th Place Northeast noticed what appeared to be two stolen road construction signs in an adjacent patio. The resident contacted the construction company that owned the signs, and confirmed that the signs had been stolen from a job site. The company then contacted Bellevue police.
A patrol officer contacted the neighbor. As a result of the officer's investigation, three subjects were arrested for outstanding arrest warrants, and a fourth was arrested after admitting to the theft of the signs. Three fake Washington identification cards were found on one of the subjects, and a search warrant was obtained for the condominium. A search of the condominium resulted in the following evidence being recovered:
- 39 false Washington ID cards and drivers licenses;
- 67 fraudulent credit cards;
- 28 various false government ID cards;
- Seven false Social Security cards; and
- Several hundred forged checks.