Woman accused of identity theft totaling $10,000

Among the goods on display Monday at police headquarters was a deep-plum Gucci cocktail dress with the $1,595 price tag still in place. There were a soft, black patent-leather overcoat and a $1,400 Prada handbag.

Some of the shoes alone carried price tags exceeding $800, including a diverse selection of four-inch spikes like the gold, strappy Jimmy Choo heels and the Italian-made Manolo Blahniks in red patent leather.

With the exhibition - timed to announce the arrest of a woman who worked in administration at a health-care agency and is charged with stealing information from four elderly women - police warned of just how easily an identity can be stolen and used for unscrupulous purposes.

"That's downright disgraceful," Chief of Detectives Keith Sadler said of the crimes of which Samia Morse, 27, of the 1800 block of Mifflin Street in South Philadelphia, is accused.

So far, $10,000 worth of merchandise has been recovered from Morse's home, along with information for 300 profiles that authorities believe were to be used in future thefts, said Capt. John Gallagher of the Major Crimes Unit.

Morse worked as a temporary administrative employee for Albert Einstein Health System, where she had access to patient information, Gallagher said. She used that information to obtain bogus identification, apply for store credit, and go on shopping sprees, he said.

In some cases, merchandise was purchased online. Other times, Morse went directly to the store, he said.

Her troubles began when a Neiman Marcus employee noticed inconsistencies with identification and the department store contacted police.

Philadelphia police and the U.S. Postal Service began investigating. Last week, Gallagher said, a search warrant was served on Morse's apartment, and she was charged with theft by deception, fraud, and related offenses.