Police nab 5 in suspected ID theft ring

In the movies, criminals often seem to hide away in hotel rooms, where they can conduct their underhanded business far from the long arm of the law — and get new towels every day. But in real life, it apparently doesn't work all that well. Just ask the five guys who Harris County sheriff's deputies arrested yesterday in a suspected ID theft ring.

The guys had been in a room at a Best Western near 290 and 1960 since July 28, KTRK reports, and have paid their bills in cash. Police found them after getting reports of suspicious activity in the area; when cops searched the motel, they found what they initially thought were bomb parts but actually turned out to be dismantled cameras and copiers.

"The items that are in here are basically items to do identity theft through ATM machines and credit cards and stuff of that nature," said Sgt. Al Blendermann with the Harris County Sheriff's Department. "So right now, it's still being worked as an ongoing case, so charges haven't been filed yet."

There must have been more going on than just photographing and copying, though, or else the people who tipped police off to "suspicious activity" at the motel were really sharp: "Wait — I think I hear criminals using cameras and copiers! Let's call the police!"

Officials say four of the men have Canadian passports but seem to be of Romanian descent; the fifth, who had neither passport nor foreign accent, they're not sure about.