June 10, 1999

The numbers of vehicle burglaries and forgeries are going up along the Wasatch Front.

Police blame much of the increase on meth addicts, and their need to support their habit.

Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has details on a forgery ring that may involve dozens of victims in the Salt Lake Valley.

One thing sometimes leads to another, and investigators say that's certainly the case here.

Down the road is a duplex, at 672 E. Leland, in South Salt Lake. Police say on one side, residents were making methamphetamine. On the other side, i.d.'s.

Early this morning, D.E.A. agents raided the left side. They found meth and some drug-making paraphernalia.

On the right side, South Salt Lake police then found a major forgery ring.

The forgery ring involves forged checks, stolen social security cards, stolen i.d.'s, in which the dozen or so people running the operation would insert their own pictures in order to cash checks.

Police collected a lot of evidence.

Salt Lake police officer Dave Browning says, "We've got sacks and sacks of driver's licenses, presumably from vehicle burglaries and thefts throughout the valley. It's our understanding that the vehicle burglaries will occur, come to a place like this, sell the i.d. and any checks that may have been left in the purse or the wallet."