Northbrook couple charged with Lincolnshire identity theft

Two Northbrook residents face aggravated identity theft charges alleging they gained access to the bank account of an elderly woman and wrote checks from it.

Linda J. and Howard M. Horn, both 58 and from the 3000 block of Pebble Beach Road, were arrested Friday on accusations they registered for online access to the elderly relative's account and used that access to write checks, said Lincolnshire investigator Adam Hyde.

Howard Horn was also charged with one count of residential burglary, while Linda Horn faces an additional criminal damage to property charge, Hyde said. That charge alleges she kicked out the glass partition of a police car while being transported to Lake County jail.

The arrests follow an investigation that began in October when the victim went to Lincolnshire police to report someone had been writing checks from her bank account.

Officers determined Howard Horn obtained the woman's bank information and Linda Horn created the online account, Hyde said.

Hyde said police were transporting Linda Horn to Lake County jail last week when she became uncooperative, made threats toward the victim, and began kicking the rear of the squad car, damaging the glass partition.

Howard Horn is free after posting the required 10 percent of a $25,000 bail. Linda Horn is free after posting 10 percent of her $100,000 bail.

If convicted of residential burglary, the most serious charge against him, Howard Horn could face a maximum 15 years in prison. Linda Horn, if found guilty of the identity theft allegations, would face a maximum of three to seven years in prison.