Maiden police looking for card skimmer suspect

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By Dave Faherty

MAIDEN, NC — Police in Maiden released surveillance pictures Tuesday of a man and a vehicle they say were involved in putting credit card skimming devices on gas pumps to steal information.

They say once the man got the information, fake cards were made to try to withdraw money at ATMs.

Police say it takes only ten to twenty seconds for someone to get into the pumps and place the skimmer. Because it's inside, there's no way to tell when you go to use your credit card.

Investigators showed us some of the skimmers found inside the gas pumps at the Circle K in Maiden.  During the last two months, 11 victims have come forward after having money stolen out of their accounts.  So far, police have found three skimmers.  They showed us how they are attached to the card readers inside after someone breaks into older pumps.

"It’s really messed up,” said customer David Reuter. “Extremely messed up.  I don't want someone stealing my money because I work extremely hard for it."

"I don't hardly use my card on the gas pump.  I just use it on in store purchases," said customer Jerry Ramseur.

Investigators shared pictures of a possible suspect.  They were taken near an ATM in Gaston County after they say the suspect made withdrawals using the information collected at the pumps in Maiden.  Police say the suspect retrieved the information from the pumps in Maiden by using Bluetooth - stealing the data with every swipe of a card.

"It could be right at the pump or so many feet away.  However far the signal on the Bluetooth signal will react to,” explained Josh Stikeleather with Maiden police.

Investigators believe the suspect was in a Dodge Ram pickup truck spotted near the Maiden store.

Police say they've reached out to Circle K about changing the older pump.  We tried to ask employees the same question, but were told they couldn't talk.

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