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Dec 12, 2007 10:45 am US/Pacific

ID Theft Investigated At El Monte Gas Station

At Least 45 Customers Have Been Victimized

EL MONTE, Calif. (CBS) ―

Police were searching Wednesday for the thieves who stole debit card information from, at least, 45 customers at an Arco station in El Monte. The suspects made off with thousands of dollars from unsuspecting customers. A computerized device apparently was used to lift key information, including debit card identification numbers, concealed in the card's magnetic strip, investigators told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

"It looks like the victims were gassing up here and using the outside pump terminals, and their credit card information was compromised," El Monte police Detective Brian Glick said.

Police don't believe it was an inside job but that the fraud artists picked the station in the 4300 block North Santa Anita Avenue because of its high customer volume.

Fraudulent withdrawals, ranging from $400 to $1,500 per customer, were made in Las Vegas, Palms Springs and New York, police said. Investigator Victor Hernandez told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune there could be as many as 100 victims.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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