Number of stolen credit cards rising

Based on calls from individuals, Brown said as many as 100 credit cards could have been stolen by the ring that hit the ski area three or four times this winter. The county is still compiling information that could run the totals higher. The thieves targeted skiers who left wallets and purses locked in their cars.

And authorities believe the highly organized theft ring is still operating in the Northwest despite last week's arrest of one ring member, U.S. Secret Service Agent Tim Wood said. There were additional arrests last year.

Stolen Idaho credit cards began showing charges from Las Vegas casinos six weeks ago, Brown said. One local credit union has reported $15,000 in losses, Brown said.

Thieves likely flew into Boise, rented a car at the airport, drove to the ski resort and flew to Las Vegas the same day, Wood said. In Las Vegas, he said, thieves create fake identification so they can use the cards to get large cash advances.

Federal and local authorities set up surveillance at Bogus Basin two weeks ago, using video cameras and undercover officers to monitor parking lots. But no one was arrested until last week when police arrested Constantine Robert Mahai, 22, at the Boise Airport after an airline ticket agent recognized him as a passenger from an earlier flight who had used a different name.

Police said he had about 20 stolen credit cards from Bogus Basin skiers.

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