Wednesday, May , 2004

PTC seeks halt to identity theft by a few restaurant servers

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

In three months, every person serving alcohol in Peachtree City will be required to undergo a criminal background check to obtain an individual alcohol serving permit.

Police Chief James Murray said the system will help protect residents from identity fraud and similar crimes.

In some cases, residents have had illegal purchases made at other Peachtree City businesses before they finished their dinner, thanks to unscrupulous employees from local establishments.

And because surrounding areas like Hapeville and Fayetteville are requiring permits, restaurant employees with criminal backgrounds are flooding Peachtree City, Murray said.

“They come here because we don’t require a permit,” Murray said.

One server in Peachtree City last year stole 323 credit cards by swiping the magnetic strips on a special machine on his belt, Murray said. Later that information was used to print fake credit cards, the chief noted.

Murray said Peachtree City is a big target for identity fraud crime because so many residents have credit cards with high limits.

The city has 76 establishments licensed to serve or sell alcohol, Murray added.

The system, which will also check servers’ fingerprints to check their criminal background and confirm their identity, will cost $26,000 up front with the $25 annual permits helping defray the cost.

The permits are good for one year and can be used even if the server switches restaurants, Murray said.

The city council unanimously approved the expenditure at its regular meeting Thursday night.

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