SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Shaler Area Middle School teacher is charged with identity theft, accused of stealing the driver’s licenses of other teachers and using them to make fraudulent returns, police said.
One of the alleged instances was reported in September when a fellow teacher caught Jeannine Vittorino, 45, in her classroom. The woman told police Vittorino was crouching on the floor behind her desk where the teacher’s purse was. The teacher then discovered her wallet was left open and her driver’s license was missing, according to the criminal complaint.
When the teacher went to make a return in January at a TJ Maxx, she was told she was no longer able to make returns, authorities said. Returns had also been made at Marshalls and HomeGoods using her identification. In all, more than a dozen fraudulent returns were made.
A second teacher reported Vittorino after having a conversation with the other teacher whose driver’s license went missing, the complaint said. That teacher shared a classroom with Vittorino last school year and noticed in June that her license was missing when she went to make a transaction.
Several other teachers who had contact with Vittorino have since told police their driver’s licenses went missing. Police were able to obtain surveillance video showing Vittorino making alleged fraudulent returns.
In addition to identity theft, Vittorino is charged with retail theft, theft by unlawful taking, access device fraud and corruption of minors.
Vittorino was allegedly changing price tags on items she was returning to the store.
Shaler Area School District officials said they are fully cooperating with police, but they cannot comment on personnel matters.
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