Dillard’s Employee Arrested for Identity Theft

Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen says a Dillard’s employee at Pierre Bossier Mall was arrested Wednesday afternoon for stealing the identity of an elderly customer and then making purchases with her information.

Constantia D. Bell, 39, of the 5000 block of Francis St. in Shreveport, stole checking account information from a customer back in November while Bell was an employee at Dillard’s Department Store in Bossier. She then used that information to pay her cable, electric and water bills between late November and mid-February for an aggregate total of $1,066.38.

The victim reported to the Sheriff’s Department on March 13 that her checking account had been compromised. When detectives initially questioned Bell about the case, she provided conflicting statements. Based on compelling evidence, though, warrants were issued for her arrest, and Bell was detained Wednesday afternoon. This time, Bell confessed to detectives to taking the checking account information and using it three times here in Bossier Parish.

Bell was charged with three counts of access device fraud, identity theft and theft of business records, and her bond is set at $33,000.

Sheriff Deen reminds residents to check their financial records regularly. "If you feel you have become a victim of identity theft or you notice suspicious activity on your accounts, please don’t hesitate to contact your law enforcement agency."