FBI studies theft of gear to make state driver's licenses

ST. LOUIS -- Police in suburban St. Louis are investigating the theft of equipment that could produce about 200 authentic-looking Missouri driver's licenses.

Kathy Burkett is the owner of the equipment, stolen from a suburban St. Louis office in Overland that contracts with the state to make licenses.

While saying such equipment could appeal to terrorists looking to fool airline and airport security workers, Overland Police Chief James Herron said Wednesday that prospect was remote.

To him, it's more likely the equipment was taken by people planning to make fake IDs to sell to minors for underage drinking, with "just a small possibility these licenses could have been used for some other purposes."

Herron said investigators had leads, but he would not elaborate.

A spokesman for the FBI in St. Louis said police in Overland were leading the investigation and that the agency was not actively involved.

Initially, Overland police said the equipment taken Sunday night included a computer and license-making software, but not the blank ID cards. Officers later said they learned that the cards also were gone.

200 cards missing

Burkett said that about 200 of the cards are missing. The cards have magnetic strips on the back and holographic state seals on the front.

A camera used to make ID photos, a laminating machine and even a vision testing machine were taken as well.

"They've got the capability to make driver's licenses," Burkett said.

Also missing: several handicap parking permits, boat registration stickers and petty cash, Overland police Capt. Robert Morrissey said.

Investigators said the thief got in by smashing the front window of the office sometime between noon Sunday and 5:30 a.m. Monday.

Burkett said police seemed concerned about the handicap permits, since they could make it easier for a car bomber to park near public buildings. The burglar passed up license plate stickers, which traditionally have been a hot item for thieves.

Burkett said this was the first time she's been burglarized.

"Being here 36 years, I felt very comfortable with the neighborhood," she said.

Police could easily determine that a license is fake by checking it against the state's database of valid drivers, officials said. But airport screeners, guards at public buildings, banks and credit card companies could be fooled.