Identity-Theft Suspect Linked To Dozens Of Car Break-Ins

Marvin Jeffrey Jr., 25, is suspected in about 70 break-ins since July, police said. About 20 of the crimes occurred at Wilson Medical Center, Barton College and various churches and businesses in Wilson, police said. Another 50 break-ins occurred at various places around Cary and Raleigh, including the North Carolina State University campus, police said.

Investigators said credit cards, checks and other items that could provide personal information were taken from the cars. They said the thief likely planned to use the information to steal victim's identities and run up huge bills at their expense.

"We all started talking and comparing similarities in the case. They were giving us information. We were giving them information," said Luke Marcum, of the Wilson Police Department.

Jeffrey, who also goes by the names Jason Stevens Jr. and Marvin Watson Jr., is being held at the Wake County Jail, pending extradition to California, authorities said.

He is wanted in that state in connection with an identity-theft ring that netted millions of dollars from cashing bogus checks. He also is suspected of providing another man with an AK-47 assault rifle that was used to kill a San Francisco-area police officer in April 2004.

"He was running a nationwide fraud scam between San Francisco and North Carolina. He seems to have a lot of North Carolina ties between the Wilson and Raleigh area," said Tex Lindsey, commander of the U.S. Marshal's Service office in Raleigh.

Jeffrey was arrested at Crabtree Valley Mall in April under one of his aliases, but he was released on bond before California authorities could notify Triangle authorities that he was wanted.

Local authorities said they plan to hold off on charging Jeffrey with any of the break-ins to see how the California cases are resolved.