REDLANDS – Three days after gas station employees discovered card skimming devices, Redlands police arrested two men after attaching the devices at two local businesses, authorities said on Wednesday.
Oscar Manuel Meza, 37, of San Bernardino, and Jose Antonio Ramirez, 33, of San Bernardino, were arrested on Monday. Redlands Police spokesman Carl Baker said employees at two gas stations found the skimming devices, which intercept credit and debit card information when a card is inserted into the card reader.
Baker said the devices were round attached to pump No. 10 at the Unocal 76 station on the corner of Sixth St. and Redlands Blvd., along with pump No. 12 at a 7-Eleven station on the corner of Tennessee St. and Lugonia Ave.
Jose Antonio Ramirez
Police disabled to the skimmers and began a surveillance operation, said Baker, “in order to identify the suspects when they returned to retrieve the devices.”
Other local gas stations were warned by fliers distributed by Police Explorers, informing them the possibility that pumps may have been some tampering done with their card-swiping devices on the pumps.
“No other business have contacted police,” said Baker
On Monday, police stopped a car leaving the 7-Eleven, locating the skimming device inside, said Baker. He warned residents to use caution when paying for gas at pumps while using a credit or debit card. “When possible,” he said, “go inside and pay the cashier rather than paying directly at the pump.”
Using a pump that is clearly visible to gas station employees is another method, he said, “and if you notice any damage or broken seals on the pump, do not use it,” said Baker, “and report it to an employee.”
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