Area law enforcement trying to stop credit card theft

There are real-life grinches about this time of year, stealing credit cards for unlawful shopping trips. The News on 6 has surveillance pictures from two cases. <br/><br/>Police investigators hope you'll

Wednesday, December 7th 2005, 12:46 pm

By: News On 6

There are real-life grinches about this time of year, stealing credit cards for unlawful shopping trips. The News on 6 has surveillance pictures from two cases.

Police investigators hope you'll recognize these scrooges before they steal anyone elseâ€™s holiday cheer.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says the first set picture was taken at the Million Dollar Elm Casino.

This woman is using a stolen credit card to get a cash advance from an ATM, it happens to be a machine that does not require a PIN. Theft victim Stacy Applegate: "Apparently, at this machine, you don't need a pin. It spits out a check, you take it to the cashier and flash and ID and they give you, in this case, a thousand, twice."

The woman also used the card at a Wal-Mart and Quik Trip. Even though Stacy isn't out the money, she's worried because the woman still has her social security number and driver's license. "It makes you feel like something else could be going on, at this moment."

Another case involves two women, who are going into area stores. One distracts the clerk, while the other steals a wallet or purse from behind the counter and they immediately go shopping. Coweta Police Lt Donnie Krumsiek: "they've gone to Sears, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Super Target. Just in the two Coweta stores, they've bought $10,000 in stolen credit cards."

The taller woman has a reddish or purplish ponytail, the shorter woman is approximately eight months pregnant and they drive a green, Pontiac Grand Am with a sunroof and spoiler and they're tearing up Green Country. "During the course of our investigation, we've had calls from Nowata, Claremore, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, they've been pretty busy."

With every fraudulent purchase thieves make, we all pay the cost, because stores often raise prices to recoup the costs. So, it benefits everyone, to stop their fraudulent ways.

If you recognize the two women who are stealing purses, call the Coweta Police hotline at 486-COPS. If you recognize the woman in the casino surveillance video, call the Osage Nation Police at 287-5510.