Thieves Rack Up $4K In Fraudulent Charges, Petaluma Police Say

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a man and a woman accused of racking up more than $4,000 in fraudulent charges on credit cards stolen in a vehicle burglary Sunday afternoon, a Petaluma police sergeant said.

The victim and his wife parked their car at about 2 p.m. Sunday at Schollenberger Park, 9 Corporate Circle, and went for a hike, according to Petaluma police Sgt. Nick McGowan. The couple told police that when they returned to their car they discovered multiple credit cards were missing from their wallets.

"Less than an hour later, the victim received numerous fraud alerts from his credit-card company," McGowan said.

The alerts showed over $2,000 worth of fraudulent transactions at Target on Kenilworth Drive in Petaluma, McGowan said.

About 30 minutes later, the victim received another alert that another $2,000 in charges had been racked up at Target in Rohnert Park.

A Petaluma police detective recovered surveillance footage showing the same two suspects at both Target stores, McGowan said.

"If anyone recognizes the suspects, they are encouraged to contact Officer Ron Flores at the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372," McGowan said.