New Holland police Friday arrested an Ephrata man accused of using pilfered Social Security numbers on  credit applications at an automobile dealership.

Police charged James I. Singer Jr., 1126 Hammon Ave., with identity theft after he attempted in January and February to deceive a Ford and a Toyota dealership that are part of New Holland Auto Group, 504 W. Main St., New Holland.

Singer was remanded to Lancaster County Prison Friday in lieu of $50,000 bail set by District Judge Rodney Hartman.

New Holland police Detective Jonathan Heisse said Singer went to New Holland Toyota Jan. 27 to purchase a 2006 Scion valued at more than $18,000. He applied for financing through Toyota Motor Credit using his own name and another person's Social Security number, Heisse said.

On Feb. 9, Singer again came to New Holland Auto Group to attempt to purchase a 2006 Ford Mustang valued at more than $21,000, police said.

This time he filled out a Ford Motor Credit application, again using his own name but this time with yet another person's Social Security number.

New Holland Auto Group contacted police Feb. 12 after discovering the discrepancies on the applications. The same day police interviewed Singer, who Heisse said admitted using illegally obtained Social Security numbers to apply for credit at the dealership.

In June, Singer was charged with theft by deception for allegedly writing a check on a closed bank account at Lancaster Car Co., 1072 Lancaster Road. Singer was attempting to purchase a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

E-mail Patrick Burns at pburns@lnpnews.com.