Cops recognize them from ATM photos
Dec 04, 2008 - 11:29 AM
By Jeff Mitchell
OSHAWA -- Five men who came to court to support friends busted in a debit card skimming operation wound up behind bars themselves when cops identified them as accomplices in the scheme.
"I think they were pretty surprised," said Durham police Detective Jeff Caplan of the five GTA men, who were busted in the lobby of an Oshawa courthouse Wednesday.
Det. Caplan and his partner Mark Stone were at the courthouse, at 242 King St. E., for a series of bail hearings for seven men busted last week on fraud charges relating to the theft and use of debit card data skimmed from an ATM. A number of people were at the courthouse to show their support for the accused men, Det. Caplan said.
"They had probably about a dozen supporters," he said.
Some of the faces were familiar to the cops, Det. Caplan said. They retrieved a number of pictures -- the images were photos of suspects using forged debit cards at ATMs across the GTA -- and used them to identify five suspects who had previously been unknown to the cops.
Five men in their 20s from Toronto, Ottawa and Markham were charged with fraud-related offences -- and taken to jail to await bail hearings.
Police arrested the first seven suspects last Saturday after tracking their movements in Whitby, following them to a motel room where investigators seized a stolen debit pin pad. But even as the police were preparing to make the arrests, accomplices were using data from the pin pad to withdraw money from victims' bank accounts, Det. Caplan said.
"It was stolen Friday night and they had all their cards ready by Saturday afternoon," he said. "They must have worked through the night."
Investigators have yet to determine the number of victims affected by the skimming operation and the amount of money stolen.
Det. Caplan said the fact the alleged accomplices showed up at the courthouse -- under the noses of the men investigating the skimming operation -- indicates they had few concerns about being implicated.
"It goes to show how bold these people are -- they don't think they're going to get caught," he said.
Recommend :
Latest News
Man charged in attack on couple back in court Jan. 22OSHAWA -- The case of a man accused of assaulting two women outside an Oshawa elementary school is due back in court later this month. A judicial pretrial session is set Jan...
Hells Angels trial winding downOSHAWA -- Jurors are expected to begin deliberations next week in the case of two Hells Angels accused of conspiring to murder an underworld rival. The trial of Remond Akleh...
Dances to aid Ajax legion, charitiesAJAX -- Canadian troops serving overseas and the Ajax Legion will benefit from an upcoming dance. The Over 30 Dance and Social Club is hosting the event on Friday, Jan. 23...
Carjackings linked, cops sayPICKERING -- Police are exploring the possibility that two recent carjackings were carried out by the same suspects. Durham cops are seeking the public's assistance as they...
Ajax snowplow, car tangleAJAX -- There was minor damage when a car and a Town snowplow bumped against each other Wednesday morning. The incident happened at about 7 a.m. when the plow turned south...
Gun pointed at woman's head in robberyAJAX -- Two teenaged suspects are being sought by police investigating a street level robbery in Ajax in which a woman had a gun held to her head. The 26-year-old victim told...
Residents oppose north Ajax highriseAJAX -- A developer's plan for a 15-storey condominium was received with less-than open arms during an information session on Tuesday. Dunbury Developments is proposing the...
Company hired to help restore St. FrancisAJAX -- A company has been hired to do interior restoration work on the former St. Francis de Sales Church. Rutherford Contracting will be paid almost $104,000 to do the first...
More snow, freezing rain on the wayOSHAWA - Residents should keep shovels handy and snow-blowers tuned up as this latest blast of wintery weather is expected to continue throughout today into the early evening...
Woman forced into van, sexually assaultedOSHAWA -- A woman was sexually assaulted by a man who forced her into his van last Friday in Oshawa. Durham police are seeking assistance in identifying the man, who...