Man Charges $13K On Credit Cards Stolen From Montgomery County Schools

ROCKVILLE, MD — Police are investigating 11 thefts of female employees' purses from nine Montgomery County schools and child care centers. The thefts took place in May and June and detectives believe the same suspect is committing them, police said.

Investigators received reports from 11 female employees whose purses/wallets were stolen from a school classroom or an office by an unknown suspect. The victims' stolen credit cards were then used to purchase items at in the County stores such as Target, Safeway, Best Buy, and Giant, police said.

The total amount of fraudulent charges placed on these victims’ credit cards has exceeded $13,000 and is growing, since investigators haven't received final amounts for some of the fraudulent purchases.

At three of the schools the suspect was approached by personnel who inquired about his purpose in the school. The man provided a brief response like he was with the cleaning staff or was a member of camp staff and then would quickly leave the area, police said.

The incidents include:

• May 9 – Twinbrook Elementary School, 5911 Ridgway Avenue, Rockville
• May 19 – Little People Daycare, 12720 Royal Carriage Drive, Germantown
• June 1 – Georgetown Hill Early School, 850 Nelson Street, Rockville
• June 8 – Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, 8330 Grubb Road, Silver Spring
• June 9 – Montgomery Child Care – Garrett Park, 4806 Oxford Street, Garrett Park. Note: Two victims at this school
• June 14 – Somerset Elementary School, 5811 Warwick Place, Chevy Chase
• June 19 – Bethesda Elementary School, 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda. Note: Two victims at this school
• June 21 – Silver Spring International Middle School, 313 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring
• June 29 – Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, 13300 Arctic Avenue, Rockville

See above the surveillance photographs of a suspect who used four of the victims’ credit cards at stores from incidents in Germantown, Bethesda, and Silver Spring.

These thefts remain under investigation. Anyone with information about this suspect or these thefts is asked to contact 2nd District detectives at 240-773-6710. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the unknown suspect. Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Photos: Montgomery County Police Department