MONROE, Conn. — A 53-year-old Monroe man told police a total of $3,530 worth of fraudulent purchases were made in California using his M&T Bank account, according to a complaint made Wednesday.
While checking his statement online, police said he discovered 12 fraudulent charges, seven made at a Courtyard Hotel in San Diego and five at an REI store in Sacramento.
He canceled his debit card immediately and told the bank he did not authorize any of these transactions. The bank told him to file a police report.
Police advised him to flag his accounts with the major credit bureaus and to monitor his financial accounts moving forward.
The Monroe Police Detective Division is investigating the case.
Stolen card at the drive-thru
A McDonald’s employee allegedly stole a customer’s Bank of America debit card and ran up $810 worth of purchases on it.
The 39-year-old Bridgeport woman turned herself in on a warrant Tuesday, charging her with credit card theft, illegal use of a credit card, receipt of goods on a credit card, eight counts of identity theft in the third-degree, and sixth-degree larceny.
She was released after posting seven percent of her $5,000 bond for a Dec. 22 court date.
Police received the complaint from a Monroe man, who told officers he used his card at the McDonald’s drive-thru on Sept. 8 and the attendant, the Bridgeport woman, told him to move up to the next window.
The victim told officers he forgot to get his card back from her and didn’t realize it was missing until two days later.
His online bank account showed eight purchases he did not make, according to police, who said Bank of America told the victim to file a police report.
The ensuing police investigation connected the fast food restaurant employee to the thefts, police said, adding the warrant was applied for and signed.
Driver may have fallen asleep before crash
A 31-year-old Monroe man told officers he was tired and must have fallen asleep when he drove his 2021 Toyota Highlander off the left side of Hattertown Road and struck a utility pole Monday night.
He was evaluated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel, but declined a trip to the hospital, according to police.
He was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane and his vehicle was towed with heavy front end damage.
Police said he was heading west on the one-way section of Hattertown Road at approximately 7:47 p.m. when he lost control of the Highlander.
A 2-vehicle-crash
A 66-year-old Shelton woman was issued an infraction for failure to obey stop sign following a two-vehicle-crash at the intersection of Elm Street and Cross Hill Road Monday afternoon.
At approximately 1:37 p.m., police said she headed west on Cross Hill in her 2019 Acura RDX. She told officers she stopped at the stop sign and did not see a 2011 Volvo C70 in the intersection, while turning right onto Elm Street.
She reportedly struck the front passenger side of the other vehicle as it headed north on Elm Street.
The other driver, a Monroe woman, also age 66, told officers she stopped at her stop sign before proceeding into the intersection where her vehicle was struck. Police did not find her to be at fault for the accident.
No injuries were reported and neither vehicle was towed.
Though the Shelton woman claims she stopped for her stop sign, police said drivers must make sure the intersection is clear before moving again.
A rear-ender
A 50-year-old Monroe man was cited for several motor vehicle violations after allegedly rear-ending another vehicle in front of the McDonald’s on Monroe Turnpike Tuesday afternoon.
He was issued a misdemeanor summons for following too closely, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, misuse of license plates and driving without insurance.
At approximately 4:24 p.m., police said he was heading north on Route 111 in a 2000 Jeep Wrangler, when a 26-year-old Newtown woman driving a 2015 Honda CRV in front of him slowed for traffic.
He told officers he could not stop in time, before hitting the Honda.
No injuries were reported and neither vehicle was towed.
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