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Warning for Customers, ATM Skimming Suspects

A surveillance video is being circulated by the Phoenix Police Department that depicts two suspects installing a skimmer device on an ATM at a Phoenix gas station. Since the beginning of 2017, approximately 61 credit card skimmers have been found at various locations around the Valley.

According to Silent Witness Sgt. Jamie Rothschild, the man and woman visited the Circle K store at 52nd Street and McDowell Road around 6:15 p.m. on January 19. “It looks like the guy pulling money out of the ATM, the woman is standing there looking around constantly. When they go away from the machine it’s almost as though she’s wiping something off the machine. Possibly fingerprints. As technology has improved criminals try to stay a step ahead and they try to figure out ways to exploit that technology,” said Sgt. Rothschild.

It’s estimated that seven people may have used the machine before the clerk was alerted about the device by another customer. Sgt. Rothschild encouraged people to remain vigilant regarding skimming devices. “If you see a screw sticking out of the machine, or the machine doesn’t feel secure or maybe a wobbly part on it, feel free to jiggle it around, you might notice something is a different color than the rest of the machine, those are all indications it could’ve been tampered with too. You may not always spot these devices but you want to always look for them,” said Sgt. Rothschild. Customers should also set up instant alerts with their bank/card to get real-time notifications when money is taken out of their account.


The first suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male between 20 and 29 years old, wearing a black baseball hat, orange coat with a hood, black skinny pants, and orange tennis shoes. The second suspect is a white or Hispanic woman between 20 and 24 years old, seen wearing a gray long sleeve shirt, “Nightmare Before Christmas” pants, with orange slippers. Anyone with information is asked to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.