New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Wednesday, February 6, a Wareham resident contacted the police department after not receiving new checks she had ordered. The individual was advised by her bank that not only had they sent the checks, but two of them had already been cashed. Detectives began working with bank investigators and found that the bank continued to receive stolen checks made out to a West Wareham resident. The investigation widened when more checks from a local business were discovered, also made out to that individual, in this case involving a separate bank. The checks had been cashed or deposited into the individual’s account, at various banks in Wareham and the Upper-Cape area.
As detectives were closing in on the case, Wareham Police received a call from the local T.J. Maxx store regarding a found wallet on February 13. Officer Richard Robidoux responded and noted that the wallet contained checks from numerous banks and multiple credit cards with different names on them. Several of the checks were determined to be from the original victim and business. All of the credit card holders were contacted and were unaware of the larceny of their cards. It was determined that the owner of the lost wallet was the same individual that detectives were investigating. Over $2,000 had been stolen from just one of the victims, and detectives attempted to find the suspect.
On Friday, February 15, at about 11:00 a.m. Wareham Police Detectives located the suspect in the area of 191 Main Street and placed her under arrest. Lauren Narhuminti, 23, of West Wareham is being charged with the following.
• Larceny over $1,200 by single scheme.
• Receiving stolen property under $1,200.
• Uttering a false check (4 counts).
• Receiving a stolen credit card.
After being processed at the Wareham Police station she was transported to Wareham District Court for arraignment.
