'Felony Lane Gang' Back In Middle Tennessee: FBI

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Felony Lane Gang, a nationwide identity theft and burglary ring, is back in Middle Tennessee, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The squads began in South Florida and have since spread across the country. While crews operate largely independently, there is a loose hierarchy, according to the FBI.

The group rents vehicles with heavily-tinted windows and then stakes out potential victims in parking lots, waiting for people to leave IDs, credit cards and checkbooks in unattended cars. The burglaries are particularly prevalent at gyms, daycares and parks where women are likely to leave their purses inside their cars.

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After stealing the items, the gang withdraws large sums of money before their victims have a chance to notify their banks or close their accounts.

Since the overwhelming majority of victims are women, gang members often recruit women working as prostitutes or those who use drugs to impersonate the victims, oftentimes disguising them in wigs. They'll send these accomplices to the bank drive-thru lane the farthest from the teller. This lane is called the "felony lane" because of the practice, thus the name of the group.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI's Nashville office at 615-232-7500.

Image via FBI