Duo charged in Felony Lane Gang crimes

Two people in connection with the Felony Lane Gang are under arrest in Colonie.

NewsChannel 13 has been reporting on the recent thefts in Colonie and North Greenbush. The Felony Lane Gang is a loose network of people who steal debit cards and checks from parked cars or gym lockers and use them at local bank branches.

Colonie police say they were contacted by a local bank employee around 4 p.m. Thursday. There was suspicious activity in the bank drive-thru.

According to the employee, a woman was trying to access a bank account using a stolen driver’s license, and the woman appeared to be disguised.

The teller recognized the woman as possibly having been involved in other crimes. The woman left before police arrived.

Police caught up with the woman in her car a few minutes later. She refused to pull over, abandoned the car near the Albany County Hockey Facility on Albany Shaker Road and hid in a densely-wooded area. The search lasted about 90 minutes.

Both suspects – 36-year-old Shannon Thompson and 33-year-old Melissa Farley – were arrested. Farley’s mugshot is not yet available. Both women are from Pennsylvania. They are now in under supervision of Albany County Probation.

Colonie police say these are not the women North Greenbush police are looking for in similar crimes. The investigation continues.