Savannah woman arrested following identity theft investigation involving $3,000 in unauthorized credit card charges

Savannah, New York – A 36-year-old woman from Savannah, New York, was arrested earlier this week following a nearly two-month investigation into allegations that she used another person’s identity to open a credit card account and make thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases.

New York State Police announced that Chelsea Kinser, 36, of Savannah, was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, after investigators linked her to a credit card account allegedly opened without the account holder’s permission.

According to State Police, the investigation began on August 11, when troopers responded to a residence in the town of Savannah after receiving a report of possible identity theft.

The complaint prompted an investigation into how the credit card account had been established and whether the person whose information was used had authorized its creation.

Investigators determined that someone had allegedly used another individual’s personal information to open the account without permission. The account was then used to make approximately $3,000 in unauthorized charges.

As the investigation continued, police identified Kinser as the person allegedly responsible for the activity.

Authorities said their findings indicated that Kinser had used the credit card account to make payments connected to her residence. State Police did not provide additional details about the specific payments or how the personal information used to establish the account had been obtained.

Following the investigation, troopers arrested Kinser on October 6 and filed two felony charges against her.

She was charged with first-degree identity theft, a class D felony, involving allegations that she assumed another person’s identity to obtain goods valued at more than $2,000.

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Kinser also faces a fourth-degree grand larceny charge, a class E felony, involving property valued at more than $1,000.

Both charges stem from the same investigation into the unauthorized credit card account and the financial activity associated with it.

After her arrest, Kinser was taken to the New York State Police barracks in Wolcott, where she was processed.

She was subsequently released on an appearance ticket rather than being held in custody.

The ticket requires Kinser to appear in Savannah Town Court on October 15, 2026, to answer the charges filed against her.

The arrest came nearly eight weeks after State Police first received the identity theft complaint in August.

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Authorities have not released further information about the individual whose identity was allegedly used or whether any of the unauthorized charges have been recovered or reversed.

State Police also did not announce any additional arrests in connection with the investigation.

Kinser is scheduled to appear in court later this month as the criminal case moves forward. The charges remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.