Police in Jefferson New Jersey are searching for someone who allegedly used an ATM skimmer to steal cash from at least 20 people.
The thefts occurred between December 23, 2016 and January 2, 2017. According to law enforcement officials, the suspect set up a hidden electronic device at an ATM at the Lakeland Bank branch located on Berkshire Valley Road in Jefferson Township, NJ. The device allowed the suspect to access personal information from victims who used their debit cards and their bank cards at the ATM.
Once the suspect had the victims’ information, they used the data to make withdrawals from several bank accounts. There have been at least 20 victims who had money stolen from their Lakeland Bank accounts over a two-week period before bank officials noticed the ATM skimmer. Those victims reportedly lost more than $20,000 as a result of the fraud crimes.
The Jefferson Township Police Department is currently investigating the fraud and trying to determine the identity of the culprit. If police can eventually identify and apprehend a suspect in the case, it is probable that criminal charges for theft of movable property and identity theft would follow.
In the meantime, law enforcement is asking that anyone who used the Lakeland Bank ATM look over their bank statements and notify Jefferson Township police if there are any suspicious transactions.
For more information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “ATM Skimmer Stole from at Least 20 in Jefferson, Cops Say.”
