Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the man suspected of stealing a wallet and using the victim’s personal information to pilfer nearly $6,000 from a bank account.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that sometime on Feb. 11 someone stole the wallet from the vehicle of a 21-year-old man who had parked his car on the 2600 block of north Main Street. Detectives believe the victim’s wallet was in the center console and the vehicle had been left unlocked. The victim reported having his driver’s license, debit card and social security card inside the stolen wallet.
The victim filed a police report that day and cancelled his debit card with a local bank. A couple weeks later, however, the victim received his bank statement and realized that approximately $5,700 was missing from his account.
Detectives believe the suspect tried to use the stolen debit card but realized it had been cancelled. He then is thought to have entered the victim’s bank and, using the stolen driver’s license and social security card, obtained a new debit card under false pretenses.
The suspect then used the new card to make several purchases and withdrawals against the victim’s bank account.
Possible charges against the suspect include identification theft, and unlawful withdrawal and use of a bank card. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect in at least two locations.
Anyone with information that can help identify the suspect is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a tip by text message to CRIMES (274637), keyword LCTIPS.
The Crime Stoppers number and text messaging services are operational 24 hours a day and you do not have to give your name to collect a reward.
Information from Las Cruces Police