A 64-year-old Manitowoc woman noticed around $2400 had been stolen from her bank account, then had another account opened in her name without her permission, leading to the arrest of her 17-year-old grandson.
According to a report from Manitowoc Police, officers were called to S. 16th Street on February 9 for a report of a theft. Only a week prior, she helped her teenage grandson open a bank account at Bank First.
She reportedly did so despite better judgment but needed to help him have an account for cashing his paychecks. She became a co-owner of the account.
Only two days later, the grandmother noticed $2425.01 missing from her account. Bank First informed her that five internet transfers had been made into her grandson’s account, at which time his account was frozen.
The 17-year-old told police that he transferred the money because “it made me feel good,” clarifying that he knew it was wrong, but that he enjoyed having the money.
An account under the grandmother’s name was opened with BMO Harris Bank, with her reportedly not giving consent for the account’s opening. Authorities contacted her grandson, discovering that he opened the second account in his grandmother’s name because he assumed he needed to be 18 to open an account on his own.
The teenager faces a charge of Unauthorized Use of an Individual’s Personal Identifying Information or Documents to obtain money and opening a bank account, acting without the consent of his grandmother.
