May 29, 2008 11:00 pm US/Pacific
Police Find Link In South Bay Gas Pump ID Thefts
SAN JOSE (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
The number of victims who had their debit card information stolen while using an Arco gas station in South San Jose has risen to as high as 80, a San Jose Police Department spokesman said Thursday.
The total amount taken by the thieves stands at approximately $45,000 but is rising as new victims come forward, San Jose police Sgt. Mike Sullivan said.
Investigators have also linked the case to an earlier spate of identity thefts that occurred at an Arco station in Los Altos in March by comparing surveillance photos from automated teller machines.
"We believe that the crews are one and the same," Sullivan said.
The San Jose Arco station is located on Camden Avenue. The Los
Altos station is located at the corner of San Antonio Road and Loucks Avenue.
After the thieves stole victims' debit card information and personal identification numbers using an easily concealed device attached to the gas station's payment machine they made unauthorized withdrawals on the accounts at ATM machines throughout the South Bay and Peninsula, according to police.
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