Carson City investigators: Vehicle burglary suspect steals credit card, tries to use it at Target

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division is asking for help in identifying a suspect in a vehicle burglary and a credit card fraud investigation.

On Nov. 25, a Carson City resident reported that his vehicle had been broken into and property, including a firearm was taken in the parking lot of Fitness for 10 at 829 Fairview Drive in Carson City. The suspect then attempted to use the victim’s credit card at Target, 910 Jacks Valley Road in Douglas County.

Above are photographs of a female suspect attempting to use the victim’s credit card at Target. There are also four videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNYZANl8LvU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiIANt6wBuU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXZN0PJuHU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apMPZOq11-s

The female suspect is described as possibly being Asian, Hispanic or Native American. The suspect was wearing a red sweatshirt, black pants and brown UGG-style boots.

Anyone having information about this crime can contact Detective Sam Hatley, Carson City Investigations at (775) 283-7852 or dispatch at (775) 887-2677 regarding Case No. 2017-7601.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division would like to remind the public during this holiday season that vehicle burglaries increase. Whether parking at gyms or going shopping, use caution in leaving valuables inside vehicles. If possible do not leave anything of value inside your vehicle or hide your valuables or gifts. And remember to lock your car.

With the holiday season here, burglaries and home burglaries tend to increase, said CCSO Capt. Brian Humphrey earlier this month. The public can take measures to not only prevent these crimes from happening but also to assist deputies in the event that a crime does take place.

The sheriff's office advises to not allow anyone into your home that you do not know or have verified to be employed by a trusted company you have asked services from. Do not open the door to strangers and do not be afraid to ask for identification from someone soliciting your business. All solicitors are required to provide you a copy of their permit in order to go door to door in Carson City.

Report suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood or businesses. If you can safely obtain license plate numbers from any suspicious vehicles this may help in identifying those who are committing criminal behavior. Many burglaries to homes occur during the day time while the owners are at work. A common tactic from burglars is to knock on the front door to see if anyone is at home then have some fake reason for being there if someone answers.

With the colder weather arriving some choose to warm up their vehicles unattended. While many newer vehicles are equipped with a remote start and kill switch if someone attempts to gain access to drive them off without the key, older vehicles may not be equipped with this option.

Vehicles left unlocked with a key in the ignition pose a strong possibility of it getting stolen, said Humphrey.

Earlier this month, the Carson City Sheriff's Office shared some basic tips for home safety during the holidays. Here they are:

— Consider new video/audio motion activated camera systems or an alarm system.

— Make sure all doors and windows are locked to include those on your vehicles; nearly half of all burglaries are done with no force, which means they were able to get in through unlocked doors and windows.

— Have a trusted neighbor or family pick up newspapers or packages if you are going to be gone for any length of time.

— Tell a trusted neighbor or family of your travel plans so they can keep an extra eye on the home and so they can call the Sheriff’s Office for any suspicious activity.

— Make your home look occupied, leave lights/radios/televisions on or think about putting them on timers so they are coming on and going off during different times of the day or night.

— Close and lock your garage.

— Have the Post Office hold your mail if going away on vacation.

— Never leave notes on the door saying you are away.

— Keep valuables and packages out of sight as much as possible.

— Do not store gifts, packages, and items in your vehicle or outside allowing thieves to steal them.

— After the holidays, break down any boxes before putting them out for the trash such as TV’s, cell phones, computers, and electronic games rather than advertising them to criminals of what new items you just purchased and are available to steal in your home.

— Document serial numbers and etch or mark items in such a way in order to later identify them when recovered if theft occurs. Criminals do not want marked items because it is harder to fence and evidence of guilt if they are caught with it.

— Exterior doors should have “dead bolt” locks.

— Sliding doors and windows should have auxiliary locks to bolster security.

When Shopping:

— Be observant, avoid dark areas, suspicious persons, stay near other people, be prepared to flee potential problems, and keep your finger on the key fob’s “alarm” button when walking to and from your vehicle.

— When using ATM’s avoid someone loitering around the location or someone who simply just does not look right, trust your instincts. Protect your PIN when entering it while using credit cards.

— Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

— Appear alert in appearance, be aware of your surroundings, hold on to your purchased items and do not leave them unattended.

— When parking your vehicle lock your doors and roll up your windows, do not leave keys inside the vehicle.

— Do not leave valuables visible inside the vehicle; store them in the trunk when possible or locked in the glove box/compartment.

— Keep your wallet or purse with you at all times.

— Do not leave out items with personal information on them.

— Don’t leave children or pets unattended in the car.

— Do not leave a running vehicle unattended; it will only take a thief seconds to take the vehicle to include if it’s locked by breaking the window.

Do not overload yourself with too many items. Take large purchases such as televisions, computers, and jewelry directly home instead of leaving them in a vehicle.