Jasper police recover $100k of stolen items in identity theft investigation

The Jasper Police Department reported the arrest of two people who were allegedly involved in a large number of thefts as well as fraud and identity theft across multiple states.

According to police, an investigation began when the department received several reports from citizens of fraudulent activity on bank accounts in the early part of February. Citizens also reported that outgoing mail containing bill payments in the form of checks may have also been stolen. A victim also reported their checking account had numerous fraudulent transactions at local businesses.

Police pulled surveillance videos from numerous businesses and were able to obtain the identity of a female suspect through a tip received from the Paoli Police Department identifying her as Lindsey Hammer.

Around the same time, a storage unit facility called the Jasper Police Department reporting suspicious activity on their property. A large van was caught on surveillance cameras at that time and police were able to determine that Lindsey and Michael Hammer with an address of 292 West 44th Street were associated with it.

In an attempt to contact Ms. Hammer, the Jasper City Utilities Office advised that Bridget Pedersen was the name with the account for that address. Police contacted Ms. Pedersen by phone and she advised that she has been a victim of identity deception and fraud and did not actually live in Jasper.

Police continue to make attempts to contact someone at the residence on 44th Street, however, no one was located.

Then, on February 18, 2019, Jasper police located Michael Hammer at the residence and detained him for questioning. After questioning, police requested a search warrant based on the stolen identity used to get utilities from the city. The search warrant was granted and executed.

During the search, officers located a room inside the residence that was believed to be dedicated to making false identifications and counterfeit checks. Also located in the search were numerous files containing personal documents of potential identity deception and fraud victims. It was also believed that the house contained numerous items thought to have been stolen from storage units in the area. Multiple trailer loads of potentially stolen property were seized from the residence and secured by the department.

During the inventory of the items seized, police identified hundreds of possible victims from the local area and also numerous other states. The number of stolen items is believed to be valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police are still trying to make contact with numerous victims in the local area and asked that if you have noticed fraudulent activity on banking statements or mailed payments that did not reach their proper destination to contact the Jasper Police Department to make an initial report with dispatch.

The department is also asking anyone with a storage unit in the local area to check to make sure their items are secure.

The department can be contacted at 812-482-2255.

Mr. Hammer was ultimately arrested and initially charged with identity deception and theft with numerous other charges to follow once all victims and inventory are accounted.

Mrs. Hammer was not initially located and a warrant for her arrest was applied for and granted. In an attempt to locate Ms. Hammer, Jasper Police Department assisted Orange County Deputies and Orange County Probation with a search of a relative’s property which Ms. Hammer had listed with her probation officer.

During a consented search of the property, a $20,000 Honda side-by-side ATV that was reported stolen from Charleston, S.C., was located. Police also located the large van involved in the suspicious storage unit activity along with several items believed to be stolen. It was determined the large van had a stolen license plate on it.

The ATV, van and other items were seized from the property and secured by department.

On February 27, 2019, Lindsey Hammer was located by law enforcement in South Carolina. Ms. Hammer is facing numerous local charges there before being extradited to Indiana to face her charges here.

The U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspectors have been made aware of this investigation and are determining whether federal charges can be sought against them.

The couple is facing multiple charges including identity deception, counterfeiting, forgery, check fraud, burglary, theft and defrauding a
financial institution.

Michael Hammer remains incarcerated at the Dubois County Security Center.

Jasper Police Department thanked the deputies with the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, troopers and detectives with the Indiana State Police, the Dubois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Orange County detectives and probation, Summerville, S.C. Police detectives, Paoli Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Service as well as numerous local businesses and the public for all the help throughout this investigation.