Man uses dead person’s identity to buy BMW in Gwinnett, police say

Gwinnett County police say this unidentified man used a dead person's identity to fraudulently buy a BMW.

Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department

Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department

Gwinnett County police say this unidentified man used a dead person's identity to fraudulently buy a BMW.

An unidentified suspect used a dead man’s identity to get a loan and purchase a BMW in Duluth, Gwinnett County police said.

The man went to BMW of Gwinnett on Dec. 7 to buy a 2018 BMW 740, and used a loan to complete the purchase, according to police. On Jan. 29, the dealership got a letter from a bank saying the loan had been taken out in the name of a man who died in November 2018. The car was then declared stolen.

Police were able to obtain the driver’s license photo used by the man who purchased the 740, but they have not identified him. He is a man between 30 and 45 years old, standing between 6 feet and 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 230 pounds and sporting a full beard.

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The car’s LoJack system, which helps law enforcement locate stolen vehicles, was activated on Jan. 29. That day, a police officer found the car at a home on Marsh Lane in Stone Mountain. The car had flat tires and was damaged on its left side, according to police.

The man inside the home told the officer a woman had dropped the car off a few weeks ago. The officer ordered the car be impounded. The next day, a motor vehicle theft detective was inspecting the car and found an insurance card that connected the car to a 2018 BMW X6 purchased the same day as the BMW 740. The dead man whose name was on the loan for the 740 was listed as a co-signer for the X6, and the man listed as the main signer on the X6 loan told officers he did not authorize the loan.

The X6 was also reported stolen and later recovered by the Riverdale Police Department.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Gwinnett County detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Crime Stoppers tips may be rewarded with up to $2,000 if they lead to an arrest or indictment.

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