Suspect In Card Reader Thefts Arrested In Downtown

LONG BEACH, CA — The Long Beach Police Department arrested a man in connection with 10 incidents of credit card reader theft believed to be part of refund scams that are happening regionally.

Officers arrested a 27-year-old resident of Long Beach in Downtown on Wednesday night and booked him on suspicion of 13 counts of burglary with his bail set at $260,000.

"Using video surveillance, LBPD personnel identified a suspect and developed a plan to apprehend him," LBPD officials said. "Last night, officers observed the suspect in the downtown area, wearing clothing from previous burglaries"

Officers recovered 19 stolen point-of-sale terminals from the man's home after obtaining a search warrant.

The man is believed to be responsible for multiple incidents which happened on:

• Sept. 4 in the 600 block of Redondo Avenue
• Sept. 11 in the 0 block of Elm Avenue at 3:17 a.m.
• Oct. 15 in the 300 block of Pine Avenue
• Oct. 15 in the 0 block of Elm Avenue at 11:46 p.m.
• Oct. 19 in the 600 block of Pine Avenue at 11:50 p.m.
• Oct. 23 in the 700 block of Pine Avenue at 11:32 p.m.
• Oct. 24 in the 400 block of West Broadway
• Oct. 25 in the 700 block of Pine Avenue at 12:45 a.m.
• Oct. 26 in the 100 block of East Broadway at 2:46 a.m.
• Oct. 26 in the 1500 block of East Broadway at 3:50 a.m.

"Excellent collaboration and communication by @LBPD officers, detectives, and professional staff," said LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish on Twitter. "They worked tirelessly to identify and arrest a suspect for a string of South Division burglaries/financial crimes."