Identity thieves arrested

When officers entered his hotel room, they found several stolen driver licenses and ID cards from California and other states. Police determined that Almeida was making fake IDs by applying his picture on stolen cards with other people's names. Almeida also had computers, printers and "other material consistent with manufacturing forged documents," Tokarski said.

Police are in the process of contacting those people to determine whether their ID information is being used to perform other forms of ID theft. Police made contact with some of the people, but further information isn't be released because it's a continuing investigation, Tokarski said.

Identity theft is a growing problem that has police paying close attention to reports of stolen ID or confidential mail. The problem is so wide-spread it led to the creation of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team, or REACH, a multi-jurisdictional task force in San Mateo County.

Almeida has been charged with forgery, possession and manufacturing false driver's licenses, false impersonation, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and parole violation.

Almeida has been arrested before "the exact same thing" in the past, Tokarski said.

Ostello was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Anyone with information about this case should call the Burlingame Police Department at 777-4100.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.