A special Bellevue Police team arrested two alleged identity thieves suspected in a string of crimes throughout the region, including at least one in Bellevue, on Nov. 3 after conducting undercover surveillance on the pair.

Detectives from the Bellevue Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team arrested Somaly Sen and Hong Phuc Giap after setting up surveillance on the woman, a spokesperson for the department reported on Nov. 4.

The team conducts plainclothes surveillance of prolific, active criminals and works frequently with the investigative units of other agencies.

“This arrest wouldn’t have been possible without the tip from a prosecutor who recognized a wanted suspect with a high likelihood to reoffend, and requested police assistance with locating and apprehending them,” said Bellevue Police spokesperson Seth Tyler.

A prosecutor with the King County Economic Crimes Unit asked the Bellevue Police last week to help locate a suspect after she stopped attending a court ordered alternative to detention program, and failed to appear in court on three pending cases on multiple charges of identity theft. The suspect, Somaly Sen, had three felony arrest warrants and was suspected of being involved in criminal activity.

Undercover detectives with the police team located Sen on Nov. 3 driving in Des Moines, Wash. with Giap. Police arrested Giap for driving with a suspended license, and a credit card that had been stolen from a Bellevue Burglary was found in his pocket. He also had a commercial check that had been stolen from a Seattle business in his pocket and Oxycodone tablets concealed in his sock.

Giap is suspected in at least one Bellevue burglary, and police will be searching the vehicle for evidence in additional crimes, Tyler said.

After finding a $2,100 diamond ring and receipt from the Covington Costco in Sen’s pocket, detectives obtained surveillance video that allegedly shows Sen opening a fraudulent account under another individual’s name at said Costco on Nov. 2.

Sen allegedly attempted to make another purchase for $7,100 with a counterfeit Washington driver’s license at the Federal Way Costco, and ran from the store after Costco Loss Prevention contacted her to question her.

Detectives impounded the vehicle that Sen and Giap were riding in, and will seek a search warrant to search for additional stolen property. Sen and Giap were booked into the King County Jail on multiple charges, including possession of stolen property, identity theft, drug possession, and warrants.