Posted:
Officers are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in a theft of a debit card.
On January 24, at 3:30 p.m., a woman shopping at Wal-Mart located at 90 Lamont Terrace in Dartmouth Crossing had her debit card stolen from her purse. The victim noticed her debit card missing on January 28 and reported the theft to police.
A review of video surveillance from the store showed three suspects working together, pacing back and forth in the cash register area, while watching the victim as she entered her debit card PIN number. As the victim left the store, one suspect walking in front of her dropped an item, causing her to stop. The other two suspects came from behind and removed her debit card from her open purse. The victim did not realize her card was missing until she noticed several un-authorized transactions on her bank account. The victim lost a substantial amount of money in this theft.
Police are releasing pictures of the suspects and ask for the public’s help identifying them. It is believed that they are working together and may not be from the area. They are described as follows:
- A white man, 30 to 35-years-old, 5'10", slim built, wearing a black coat and a dark New York Yankee’s baseball cap.
- A white man, 30 to 35-years-old, 6’, medium built, unshaven, wearing a dark jacket and a dark touque.
- A white man, 30 to 35-years-old, 6’, medium built, unshaven, wearing a dark vest, a dark hat and a grey scarf.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your PIN on both debit and credit cards:
- Never disclose your PIN to anyone including bank employees, police, friends or family members
- Choose a PIN that's easy for you to remember and known only to you. You should also consider changing your PIN from time to time
- Avoid using common numbers such as your date of birth, address, social insurance number, phone number, etc.
- Always shield the PIN pad when entering your PIN
- If you suspect that your PIN has been compromised, notify your bank immediately
Anyone with information about these suspects or these incidents is asked to contact police at 490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip - Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
