Credit/Debit Cards Compromised at Valero Gas Station

Press Release Posted 1/9/12 – On December 27, 2011, Sierra Madre Police Department Officers were called to investigate vandalism at the Valero Gas Station located at 4 N. Baldwin Ave. The investigating officers found one of the gas pump doors pried open and evidence that a “fraud skimmer” had been placed inside the gas pumps and then had been removed.

On January 5, 2012 community members started reporting to the Sierra Madre Police Department that their credit card or ATM cards had been compromised and that they had made recent purchases at the Valero Gas Station.

This is very similar to the crimes that took place in 2010 where “fraud skimmers” were placed inside the gas pumps at the old EVG Gas Station located at 50 S. Baldwin Ave.

The Sierra Madre Police Department and the United States Secret Service are jointly working on these new cases as well as the old cases.

Anyone who has purchased gas from the Valero Gas Station from December 1, 2011 thru December 27, 2011 and used a debit or credit card at the pumps should check their bank statements and report any misuse or fraud to the Sierra Madre Police Department at (626) 355-1414.

Editor’s Note: I contacted Chief Giannone to ask how the December 1st date was arrived at, and his response was that most bank statements begin with the first of the month, and no one has reported anything from November.  Since it appears that machines were compromised on the 27th of December, most likely that would be the beginning date, however to be safe, police are suggesting checking back to Dec. 1, 2011.