According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, deputies began investigating the use of multiple stolen credit cards after O’Reilly Auto Parts realized the cards had been stolen shortly after sales were made.
At approximately the same time, a second local victim reported that their credit card had just been used to complete several purchases at this same O’Reilly Auto Parts location. The victim reported that they were still in possession of the actual credit card.
O’Reilly Auto Parts reported that after receiving a phone call from a victim that questioned why their credit card had just been used to purchase merchandise, the store employees realized that purchases were being made at their business using stolen credit cards. O’Reilly Auto Parts further recognized that the merchandise that had just been purchased would likely be returned to different O’Reilly Auto Parts stores in the region. This a known tactic used by the criminal element to turn credit card purchases into cash.
Deputies were able to identify two of the four suspects involved through information given to O’Reilly Auto Parts to complete the purchases.
Deputies were able to identify two of the four suspects involved through information given to O’Reilly Auto Parts to complete the purchases.
While this was going on, reports that the merchandise that had been purchased a short time earlier had been attempted to be returned at O’Reilly locations in Metropolis, and a second location in Paducah. Each time the suspects left prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
At approximately 8:00 pm, the Calvert City Police Department reported that they stopped a rental vehicle with Nevada license plates leaving O’Reilly Auto Parts in Calvert City. The store there reported the individuals in the vehicle had been attempting to return products that had been purchased with stolen credit cards in Paducah. Two of the four suspects fled on foot from the traffic stop.
At approximately 8:00 pm, the Calvert City Police Department reported that they stopped a rental vehicle with Nevada license plates leaving O’Reilly Auto Parts in Calvert City. The store there reported the individuals in the vehicle had been attempting to return products that had been purchased with stolen credit cards in Paducah. Two of the four suspects fled on foot from the traffic stop.
Calvert City Police Department located purchase receipts and all of the purchased merchandise inside the rental vehicle.
One of the suspects that was apprehended by Calvert City police was also a suspect that had been identified by McCracken County Sheriff's deputies.
On Thursday, 21-year-old Jaquez Williams of Lansing, MI, and 20-year-old Kenneth Johnson of Detroit were both served warrants for fraudulent use of a credit card. Both are currently lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center.
McCracken County Sheriff's Deputies were able to identify the two suspects that fled from the traffic stop, and criminal charges are pending.
Police this type of criminal act is becoming commonplace. The suspects will travel into areas where they are not known, often times in vehicles that are rented with stolen identities. They then commit criminal acts to obtain credit card information, including breaking into vehicles and using electronic credit card skimming devices. The credit card information is then used to purchase merchandise and gift cards that are easily converted into cash.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to look at credit card machines before using their cards, and to hide or remove valuables from view while parking in public parking lots, even if only parking for a short time.
McCracken County Sheriff's Deputies were able to identify the two suspects that fled from the traffic stop, and criminal charges are pending.
Police this type of criminal act is becoming commonplace. The suspects will travel into areas where they are not known, often times in vehicles that are rented with stolen identities. They then commit criminal acts to obtain credit card information, including breaking into vehicles and using electronic credit card skimming devices. The credit card information is then used to purchase merchandise and gift cards that are easily converted into cash.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to look at credit card machines before using their cards, and to hide or remove valuables from view while parking in public parking lots, even if only parking for a short time.
