Tow truck driver stole AAA customer info to buy clothes, jewelry, car parts, cops say - NJ.com
Investigators want anyone who has used AAA Roadside Assistance in Atlantic or Cape May counties since 2016 to report suspicious credit card activity to police following the arrests of three people allegedly involved in an identity theft operation.
Atlantic City Police say the scheme began with a tow truck driver who stole credit card information from roadside assistance customers he helped in those counties.
City Wide Towing contacted police in September to report that the employee, William Reyes, 44, of Atlantic City, was allegedly taking personal information from AAA customers and using it to make purchases on their credit cards and to create fake online accounts.
City Wide fired Reyes.
Police identified at least 20 victims of the scheme and say Reyes used the stolen information to purchase clothing, shoes, jewelry and car parts.
They also said they had identified two local homes where the fraudulent purchases were being delivered.
Police executed a search warrant at a Kentucky Avenue home on Thursday and arrested Reyes and Elizabeth Cruz, 47, of Atlantic City. Officers recovered some of the items allegedly purchased through the scheme at that house.
At a residence on Federal Court in Galloway Township, they arrested Alexander Rosario, 39, and recovered more of the purchases, along with 115 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and more than $22,000 in cash.
Reyes was charged with identity theft, credit card theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, conspiracy and money laundering.
Rosario was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and multiple drug offenses, including possession with intent to distribute.
Cruz was charged with receiving stolen property.
All three were released on summonses for future court dates.
AAA customers who think they may have been targeted are asked to contact Atlantic City Police at 609-347-5766 or text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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