Police: Credit card thefts at Lodi schools related to Galt cases

Lodi police have tied a series of credit card thefts at Lodi schools to similar cases at two Galt elementary school campuses. There have been no arrests, but authorities believe the same two suspects may be wanted in cases up and down California.

The connection came when a Galt elementary school principal recognized the face of a woman captured by surveillance cameras at the local Target store, who allegedly used stolen credit cards to make illegal purchases. She said the same suspect was on her campus a week earlier.

On Sept. 23, two teachers at Vinewood and Lois E. Borchardt elementary schools reportedly had their credit cards stolen from their purses after regular school hours. Both schools were holding parent-teacher conferences that week.

Police were contacted after the teachers' financial institutions called them to report large purchases at Target stores in Lodi and Lathrop, police have said.

Two days later, another credit card was allegedly stolen from a teacher's purse at Lodi High School during regular school hours.

Between $1,600 and $2,000 was charged among the three thefts, according to police.

When the story and a photo of a man and woman who were suspected of the thefts first appeared in the News-Sentinel, the Galt principal said it resembled a woman who came into her office earlier in September to ask to be shown around the campus.

The same woman was seen at another Galt elementary school.

The principal told Galt police the same day that her credit and debit cards were stolen. They were used within hours to charge close to $7,000 at Target stores in Sacramento and Lathrop, as well as Nordstrom's at Arden Fair Mall.

A teacher at Valley Oaks Elementary School, too, reported her credit cards and cash stolen the same day. Someone charged about $1,000, also at Target.

"We showed them some of our footage and one of them said, 'That sure looks like the lady I talked to,'" Lodi school resources officer Raul Trevino said this week. "The other lady was 100 percent sure."

Surveillance video from Nordstrom's in Sacramento shows the woman, but not the man, he added.

The male suspect is described as black, is about 18 to 25 years of age, thin to light build, 5-feet, 6-inches to 5-feet, 8-inches, with short hair, cosmetic or prescription glasses, a goatee and very nicely dressed.

The woman, too, has a dark complexion, about 25 to 30 years old, 180 pounds, 5-feet, 6-inches, with black shoulder-length hair, nicely dressed and sharp, down to the fingernails. She may be pregnant, according to police.

Trevino said it appears they have connections to the Bay Area and possibly out of state. A Utah woman reportedly called the Sacramento store about charges that were made there with a credit card, though she hasn't been in the state for years.

"It seems purchases may have been made there and returned to the Roseville store. The stuff bought in Sacramento using the Galt woman's credit card was returned to a Nordstorm's in Walnut Creek for cash," Trevino said, adding that there may be further ties to Santa Barbara. "We believe these people are going up and down the state."

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Lodi Police Department at 333-6728.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on Oct 25, 2009 3:18 PM:

" edumacation wrote "Now what excuses do liberals have?"

edumacation: What excuses do the right wingnuts have for the previous 8 years? "

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hicksvilianfromlodi wrote on Oct 25, 2009 2:56 AM:

" ok edumacation im taking you on obama has done a great job just look at our country were not failing are we. He must stabilize the country before he can change it. "

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edumacation wrote on Oct 18, 2009 9:26 PM:

" Just wondering? Last year-- Progressive liberal politicians were claimimg that the one large reason for the high African-American crime rate was because they didn't think that they had opportunities to make an honest living. Later 90% of African Americans voted for their progressive fearless leader. He got the job! Hail to the Chief! Now what excuses do liberals have? They own the Executive branch with Obama and friends, they own the Congress and Senate. But I have not seen ANY CHANGE, but more billions for bankers just like under the Chimp. What about change in the subculture that worships robbery? nope---business as usual. I guess that liberal argument didn't work. Now I wonder WHEN WILL WE SEE THESE GREAT LIBERAL CHANGES? Oh I know, we will release all political prisoners (African-Americans), pay them billions in restitution and abolish the right to protect ourselves with guns.

Hhmm? "

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dogs4you wrote on Oct 16, 2009 4:49 PM:

" What kind of camera was that pic taken with, an old brownie in a box. Get with the digital age and up grade the photos, it would make the LPD`s job so much easier, since their mug shot might already be on a wall in a book, or on a CD. Banks should do the same. "

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galtguy wrote on Oct 16, 2009 1:58 PM:

" "Note from Editor Rich Hanner: Please be civil — or be gone."

Does this mean we shouldn't notice their race? Or just leave out the Fried Chicken jokes? "

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Comments on this story are now closed.

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