(December 11, 2002) -- LBPD has arrested a 37 year-old LB man, a suspect wanted for identity theft, alleging he had over 100 personal profiles of potential identity theft victims (including personal information, social security numbers and driver's license numbers) at his residence in the 1000 block of Myrtle Ave.

Police allege their month long investigation led detectives to believe Mark Samuel Hartson had obtained personal information of a victim and used the info to open credit lines at local electronics stores, buying over $10,000 worth of electronics equipment under the assumed identity.

LBPD says its detectives served a search warrant at Hartson's residence where they recovered an additional $5,000 in allegedly stolen property and the 100+ personal profiles of potential identify theft victims. Police further allege the suspect rented his apartment under an assumed identity and had a warrant for his arrest from another police department for a previous alleged identity theft.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call LBPD Sgt. Rick Farfan of the Identity Theft detail at (562) 570-7602.