Police charge N.Y. woman with credit card theft
OCEAN TOWNSHIP — A New York woman is facing fraud charges after she allegedly tried to purchase more than $1,000 in items from a local store using a fraudulent credit card.
At approximately 11:37 a.m. on Dec. 15, officers with the Ocean Township Police Department responded to the area of BJ’s Wholesale Club on Route 35 for a report of fraudulent credit card activity, according to police reports.
The business reported that a female suspect was leaving the property in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York registration, according to reports.
Ocean Township Police Officer Kathleen DeLanoy observed the vehicle exiting a nearby gas station and radioed its location to Patrolman Timothy Kolodziej, who initiated a motor vehicle stop and took the suspect, Crystal Taylor, 44, of Brooklyn, N.Y., into custody, according to reports.
Patrolman Jesse Orbach also assisted with the investigation.
According to police, BJ’s loss prevention employees first recognized Taylor while she was shopping due to a notice that was distributed to all of their stores alerting them that Taylor had allegedly used fraudulent credit cards in other BJ’s locations in New York and New Jersey.
The store’s employees contacted police after Taylor reportedly attempted to pay for $1,179 in merchandise, including a 40- inch television, with a fraudulent credit card, police said.
Taylor fled the store when store employees began to scrutinize her credit card, police said.
At the time of her arrest, Taylor was allegedly in possession of six fraudulent credits cards, a stolen BJ’s membership card and a fraudulent Washington, D.C., driver’s license, according to police.
She was transported to the Ocean Township Police Department for processing.
T
he auto operated by Taylor was seized
for possible civil forfeiture.
Additional investigation by detectives James Kelesidis and Jeffrey Malone determined that Taylor allegedly engaged in fraudulent credit card use the previous day at a BJ’s in Freeport, N.Y., according to police.
A
n investigation into alleged additional
fraudulent credit card use by Taylor in Ocean Township and in other jurisdictions is ongoing, according to police.
Taylor was charged with credit card theft, criminal simulation, uttering a forged instrument, forgery, possession of false identification, attempted theft by deception, and receiving stolen property, according to police.
She was later transported to the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in default of $20,000 bail.
Article source: http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2010-12-30/Front_Page/Police_charge_NY_woman_with_credit_card_theft.html
Category: Identity Theft Watch