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Aug 6, 2008 7:00 pm US/Central
Crooks Buy Gas For Others With Stolen Credit Card
(WCCO)
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The latest incident happened at the Holiday Station at 24th and Washington in North Minneapolis.
CBS
Two men were arrested after using a stolen credit card to fill up driver's cars with gas for half the value in cash. It's just another illegal way crooks are cashing in on high gas prices.
The latest incident happened at the Holiday Station at 24th and Washington in North Minneapolis.
Police arrested two men, Kyle Parker, 18, and Dewayne Braswell, 18.
It was Sunday afternoon when
Graciano Fernandez pulled into his garage to find intruders waiting.
"When I opened (the door) I see the people ... and say what you want. They (were) asking (for) money," said Fernandez.
Fernandez said they started pushing and punching him.
Police said Parker and Braswell stole his wallet
and cell phone and left after one final blow."The second person had a big bottle -- a big glass bottle and dropped it on my head," said Fernandez.
Investigators said the two came to a north Minneapolis holiday station store and offered half price gas for cash.
"(They) were pumping gas into other people's cars. They were using the victim from the robbery's (credit) card," said Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer.
The two managed to charge about $300 worth of gas in a half hour before police arrived to arrest them.
"It's horrible that it came to that, that people are going to those measures just to get cash," said Minneapolis resident Sheldon Owens.
Police said gas stations near freeways are often targeted because they are typically very busy.
"I know the economy is bad, but I think to do something like that and to take those measures is really ridiculous," said Minneapolis resident Bridgett Brown.
Some gas stations now require drivers to enter their zip code when using a credit card to pay at the pump to protect them from credit card fraud.
If the zip code doesn't match the card, the gas won't flow.
Super America has this system in the metro area and may soon expand that statewide because it's working so well.
Police said this crime has been steadily escalating over the past five years right along with gas prices.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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