Credit Card Skimmer Found on Exxon Station's Gas Pump: Police

VIENNA, VA — The town police are working to determine how a skimming device, designed to steal financial information, was installed on one of the fuel pumps at a gas station on Maple Avenue.

The police were alerted to the scene at 2:08 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Exxon station at 395 Maple Ave. East, according to a police report.

A citizen reported to police that a vehicle with three men pulled into the closed gas station. "The men were acting suspicious and appeared to be tampering with one of the pumps," the report stated.

The three quickly got back into their vehicle and left. Officers searched the area, but did not locate them.

The police followed up with the Exxon station's employees when it opened Tuesday morning, "and found that a skimming device had been attached to one of the pumps," the report said.

A skimming device can be affixed to, or installed into, a machine like a fuel pump with a credit/debit card reader. When a customer slides their card through the reader to pay for something, the skimming device collects financial information from the card.

Criminals can then extract the data collected by the skimming device, such as credit card account numbers and personal identification numbers (PINs).

The Fairfax County police recently arrested three Florida men on charges that they used a Bluetooth wireless device to extract financial data from a skimming device that was placed inside a fuel pump at a gas station in Bailey's Crossroads.

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The following summary contains various incidents of general interest handled by the Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department from March 10, 2017, to March 16, 2017. Readers are reminded that an “arrest” is based upon probable cause and does not always mean that someone was physically taken into custody. Furthermore, it does not mean that an individual is automatically guilty of a crime. Judicial outcomes and post-arrest proceedings can be researched through the appropriate court’s website.

(VIENNA POLICE HIGHLIGHTS is not meant to be a listing of every incident or call handled by the Vienna Police, but merely a more substantive summary of several incidents, which may be of interest to the community. Some reports may be outside the date parameters due to extended investigations or other circumstances. Some cases are not included at all due to ongoing investigations. Please contact Ruth Rohr for further information at ruth.rohr@viennava.gov)
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The following are other incidents reported by police in their weekly report released Friday:

Assault 17-002299: Waterfalls Wellness Center, 307 Maple Ave. W, Feb. 23 between 4:30 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. A citizen advised she was assaulted by a massage therapist during an appointment at the
Waterfalls Wellness Center. This case is being investigated.

Arrest – Warrant Service 17-000925 and 17-002164: Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, March 8, 12:13 p.m. Detective Simon obtained three felony warrants in a Forgery case charging Forgery, Uttering a
Forged Check and Obtaining Money by False Pretense (incident 17-000925, previously listed in the Feb. 10 Highlights). The man was arrested by authorities in Maryland and extradited back to Virginia. Detective Simon served the warrants in this case at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The man was also wanted by the City of Falls Church Police Department on two felony warrants charging Forgery and Uttering a Forged Check, which Detective Simon also served. The 29-year-old man from Tussock Court in Middle River, MD, was issued a $15,000 unsecured bond and released on his signature.

Suspicious Event 17-002186: 100 Block Battle Street SW, March 9 11:45 a.m. A resident received a telephone call from a number she did not recognize. She heard a woman screaming for help, then a man got on the phone and advised he had her adult daughter and stated her daughter’s name. The resident immediately hung up and checked on her daughter, finding she was safe at work and that this was an attempted scam.

Domestic Assault 17-002188: Yeonas Drive SW, March 9 1:54 p.m. A hospice social worker reported one of their elderly, bedridden patients had been assaulted by his adult son, causing injury to the patient. The son, who suffers from mental health issues, was
transported to a facility for evaluation and treatment. It was determined that charges would not be placed due to the son’s mental health. Arrangements were made by social workers to prevent further altercations between the father and son.

Arrest – Narcotics Violation 17-002251: Maple Avenue and Westbriar Drive NE, March 11 1:16 a.m. Ofc. Bulti observed a driver commit a traffic offense and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver, he detected the odor of marijuana. The driver was found to be in possession of a measurable amount of marijuana. Ofc. Bulti issued a summons to the 27-year-old female from United Court in Waldorf, Md., charging Possession of Marijuana. She was released on her signature.

Arrest – Driving While Intoxicated 17-002256: 200 Block Maple Avenue W, March 11 2:28 a.m. Sgt. Kiley observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver, he detected signs of possible impairment. After failing to complete a series of field sobriety tests, he arrested the 27-year-old female from Counsellor Drive in Vienna. The woman was transported to the Vienna Police Station, where she was given the opportunity to provide a sample of her breath for analysis. She was then transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where she was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

Trespass 17-002275: 500 Block Park Street NE, March 11 6:45 p.m. A resident advised she had a verbal dispute with a woman whose daughter was taking piano lessons from her. The resident requested the woman and her daughter leave the home, but the woman refused.
The woman was advised if she returns to the property, she may be charged with trespassing.

Arrest – Driving While Intoxicated 17-002294: 200 Block Maple Avenue W, March 12 1:40 a.m. Sergeant Kiley observed a vehicle with defective equipment and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver, he detected signs of possible impairment. After failing to complete a series of field sobriety tests, he arrested the 47-year-old man from Oliver Court in Manassas. The man was transported to the Vienna Police Station, where he was given the opportunity to provide a sample of his breath for analysis. He was then transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

Arrest – Driving While Intoxicated 17-002295: 300 Block Maple Avenue W, March 12 3:18 a.m. Ofc. Bulti observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver he detected the signs of possible impairment. After failing to complete a series of field sobriety tests, he arrested the 25-year-old man from Monument Hill Way in Fairfax. The man was transported to the Vienna Police Station where he was given the opportunity to provide a sample of his breath for analysis. He was then transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

Death Unknown Cause 17-002296: 200 Block Courthouse Circle SW, March 12 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Officers responded to assist Fairfax County EMS with an unresponsive woman. Fairfax County EMS determined the female was deceased. There were no signs of foul play. A detective will follow up with this case.

Juvenile Case 17-002307: Cedar Lane School, 101 Cedar Lane SW, March 13 10:42 a.m. School administration reported a threat a female student made toward a staff member. The student was released to the custody of her mother and the school administration will follow up on this case.

Arrest – Narcotics Violation 17-002325: Maple Avenue and Nutley Street SW, March 13 10:19 p.m. Ofc. Reedy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his interaction with the driver he detected the odor of marijuana. The passenger in the vehicle was found to be in possession of a measurable amount of marijuana. Ofc. Reedy issued a summons to the 25-year-old man from Grobie Pond Lane in Centreville, charging Possession of Marijuana. He was released on his signature.

Suspicious Event 17-002338: 1100 Block Drake Street SW March 14 7:44 p.m. A resident advised a woman was banging on her door. The woman advised her adult daughter had not returned home in a few days. This is the address of one of her friends and the woman believed she may be there and in need of assistance. Officers determined the daughter was not at the residence. They later spoke to the daughter by phone and found she did not need any help.

Extortion 17-002366: 100 Block Patrick Street SE, March 15 12:44 p.m. A resident advised he was online, speaking to a girl he had met through social media. He gave the girl some of his personal information. He later received a telephone call from a man demanding payment for the conversation and threatening the resident. This case is being investigated.

Police Service 17-002371: 1100 Block Drake Street SW, March 15 9:13 p.m. The resident advised she has received several voicemails and text messages from a woman regarding the location of the woman’s daughter (reference Incident #17-002338). The resident was advised of the legal process if she wishes to stop further contact with the woman.

Crash - Center Street near Elm Street SW 17-002365: March 15 2:46 p.m. One vehicle was legally parked in the southbound lane of Center Street near Elm Street. Another vehicle was traveling south on Center, started to turn right on Elm, but changed direction to continue south on Center. The driver hit a patch of ice, causing her to lose control. She drove through a snowbank and into the parked vehicle, causing significant damage.

Crash - Ware Street and Tapawingo Road SW 17-00236: March 15 4:13 p.m. The first vehicle was northbound on Ware Street at the stop sign for Tapawingo Road SW. The second vehicle was eastbound on Tapawingo Road at the stop sign. Both drivers attempted to go straight at the same time. The first vehicle struck the passenger side of the second vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle was issued a summons charging Failure to Pay Full Time and Attention.
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Citizens are reminded to PLEASE call and report suspicious activity. Even if you choose not to provide your name or other personal information, we still need your help as extra eyes and ears in the community. See or Hear Something? Say Something! We WANT to be Bothered! Call 911!