Special Police Operation Hunts For Credit Card Skimmers Before The Damage Is Done

HAVERSTRAW, NY — Police are employing a tech solution to stymie credit card scammers in their jurisdiction.

The Haverstraw Police Department says that on Tuesday, in collaboration with investigators from the Rockland County Intelligence Center, they conducted a proactive operation focused on combating fraud and identity theft.

Detectives and Community Resource Officers visited all gas stations, in addition to several convenience stores and other businesses with publicly accessible credit card machines, where skimming devices could potentially be attached.

Using specialized skimming detection equipment, officers inspected over 130 credit card machines throughout the jurisdiction. They report that no credit card skimming devices were found during the operation.

"These proactive inspections are about staying ahead of criminal activity and protecting our residents and business owners before they become victims," Chief John Gould Jr said. "We will not sit back and wait for crimes to occur or for our residents to be victimized. By working closely with our regional partners and using advanced detection technology, our goal is to stay out ahead of these threats and prevent the crime from occurring in the first place. I also want to thank Sheriff Louis Falco for his support in making these specialized detection tools accessible to police departments throughout Rockland County, which allows local agencies to take meaningful, proactive steps to protect our communities."

Business owners who would like their credit card machines checked for potential skimming devices can contact the Haverstraw Police Department at 845-354-1500.