Police blotter: Hunch leads to car prowl suspects with stolen debit card

Debit card down the drain

June 21 – A woman’s vehicle window was broken, and her purse and jacket were missing. Two suspects were later found trying to use the debit card from the purse to purchase gift cards.

Police were dispatched at 5:57 p.m. to Harborview Drive and Austin Street, where the victim explained to the officer that both her debit card and I.D. were in the purse. On a hunch, the officer went to a nearby store.

At the store, workers pointed out a couple attempting to buy a large number of gift cards. Once the couple realized the officer was onto them, they left the store but were stopped at their vehicle.

The couple admitted to stealing the purse and jacket out of the vehicle. The woman told the officer she threw the ID and debit card down a storm drain before the officer approached them. The cards were retrieved from the drain and returned to their owner. The man and woman were arrested.

Overheated and abandoned

June 21 – Police noticed a vehicle sitting on the side of the road with tinted windows and no front license plate. No one was inside, but the vehicle did contain three car batteries, a set of jumper cables, several pairs of snips, wrenches, and other tools commonly used for vehicle prowls.

Police found the vehicle at 10:58 p.m. at Burnham Drive and Borgen Boulevard. Due to the suspicious nature of the vehicle, the officer asked to have the area searched for prowlers. No suspects were found.

After further inspection, it appeared the vehicle’s engine may have overheated. The vehicle was towed later that night.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 5:20 PM.