Pinellas Deputies Investigating Gas Pump Skimmers in Seminole and Palm Harbor
Posted: April 20, 2017 – 9:35 p.m.
Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit are warning gas station customers of two credit card skimmers that were found on gas pumps in Palm Harbor, and unincorporated Seminole.
The unincorporated Seminole incident was reported to deputies at about 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2017 when deputies were called to the Speedway gas station located at 11708 Seminole Boulevard, in unincorporated Seminole.
Employees at this business found a credit card skimming device on gas pump #1. In this specific case, employees received an alert from the gas pump at about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, indicating that someone tampered with the gas pump.
Employees inspected the pump and found the skimming device. Detectives say that employees took appropriate action and immediately shut down the gas pump before any customers could utilize it. Deputies obtained surveillance video from the Speedway gas station in unincorporated Seminole, showing a black SUV pull up to gas pump #1, at about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.
An unidentified male suspect exited the passenger side of the vehicle and entered the store while at least one other suspect remained with the vehicle at the gas pump. The suspect is seen on video entering the store but he never makes a purchase. The suspect leaves the store, gets back into the SUV, and the SUV pulls away. The male suspect is described as white or Hispanic male, approximately 35-45 years of age, wearing a white hat, a blue long sleeve shirt, light colored jeans ripped at the knees, and dark colored shoes.
The other incident occurred at the Speedway gas station located at 2734 US Alternate 19, in Palm Harbor at the Speedway gas station. According to detectives, at about 5:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2017, deputies were called to the Speedway gas station located at 2734 US Alternate 19, in Palm Harbor, after employees found a credit card skimming device on gas pump #2. Deputies determined that someone forced open the gas pump and installed the skimmer sometime between 3:45 a.m. on April 19, 2017, and 3:45 a.m. on April 20, 2017.
Surveillance video from the gas station can be viewed on the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office YouTube page.
Detectives are asking customers who bought gas at the Speedway gas stations to check with their financial institutions to see if there are any unauthorized bank transactions. If so, they should notify the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.
Anyone with information that may assist detectives in this case is asked to contact Detective James Holden at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (727) 582-6200 or remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org. The investigation continues.