everal instances of credit and debit card fraud and Internal Revenue Service tax return fraud have been reported to the Key Biscayne Police Department in recent weeks.
A Greenwood Drive man discovered he had been the victim of identity theft when he realized someone had filed his tax return with the IRS using his Social Security number and other personal identification.
Another fraud involving the IRS was reported by a Crandon Boulevard woman who had always filed her income taxes jointly with her husband. She recently found out from her New York-based accountant that someone had filed her return using her personal information. She was due a refund of $500. Her husband had not been affected.
When a Satinwood Drive woman found she had been the victim of bank card fraud, with purchases made mainly at Winn-Dixie and CVS on Key Biscayne, she alerted her bank, which issued her a new card and PIN number. The frauds continued with the new card. Police and bank officials are investigating.
A Galen Drive man told police despite fraud monitoring by his bank, someone used his identification to open store credit card accounts at JC Penney, Best Buy and Target. The thief also attempted to open one at Nordstrom, but was declined.
A divorced Miami woman told police her ex-husband, a Key Biscayne resident, had fraudulently opened two Capitol One credit card accounts that had been mailed to the former couple’s Ocean Lane Drive address, where the ex-husband still lives.

Thefts
An Ocean Lane Drive woman reported the theft of a chain, and believes her grandson who had been staying at her home with his girlfriend may have been the culprit. The girlfriend, after arguing with the woman’s grandson, told the woman her grandson had taken the chain. The grandson had previously been arrested for theft.
A Glenridge Road woman reported her golf cart stolen from her driveway. Police later found the cart in good condition parked on Fernwood Road.
A Fernwood mother reported the theft of her son’s mountain bike. Her son has had four bikes stolen from the same location.
A thief reached through the open driver’s side window of a vehicle parked on Crandon and took a woman’s wallet.
Another woman had her purse stolen out of her vehicle on Hobie Beach. The bag contained cash and credit cards – one of which was used to purchase gas at the Coral Way America gas station before the woman had a chance to cancel the cards.
A woman reported the theft of a basketball hoop from her Harbor Drive property.
A Harbor Drive woman reported the theft of four orchids from a table in her backyard.
A Redwood Lane man, unaware that the house in which he was living had been purchased, found the water had been shut off. The man was cited for using his neighbor’s water pipe without permission.

Fire-Rescue
The Key Biscayne Fire-Rescue Department requested assistance from the Key Biscayne Police Department when a West Mashta Drive elderly female in need of medical attention refused to go to the hospital. She was later convinced to go willingly by Fire-Rescue.
A fire alarm sounded at L’Esplanade Mall that required the fire department to break a lock in order to shut it off. The alarm sounded as a result of a broken sprinkler head system. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the property owner.

Disputes
An argument between two Galen Drive women, one of whom was moving, escalated when one of the women parked in the other’s assigned space.
An argument between a customer and a 7-Eleven store clerk escalated when a second customer came to the defense of the clerk. Police say both customers emitted a strong odor of alcohol.
Vehicle vandalism
and damage
A woman driver was exiting a Crandon shopping plaza when a male pedestrian kicked the rear quarter panel of her vehicle, causing about $3,000 in damage. The woman, fearing for her safety, continued driving until she was able to flag down police officers.
An East Enid Drive man reported vandalism to his vehicles. One bench seat was missing from his 2001 Club Car parked across the street from his home, and there were footprints, scratches and other damage to two cars parked in his driveway.