File: 23-7462, 23-7499, 23-7549
The Saint John Police have made two arrests in connection with fraudulent purchases of tires from local businesses.
It is alleged that:
Between Tuesday, November 14 and Wednesday, November 15, 2023, a number of high dollar purchases for tires were made at local businesses using fraudulent credit cards.
On Thursday, November 16, 2023, a 31-year-old woman had attempted to pick up an order of tires at a local business using a UHAUL truck. Police were contacted and arrested the woman who was using false identification. She appeared in court on November 17, 2023, charged with possessing identity documents belonging to another person and obstructing a peace officer. She pled guilty and was placed on a six-month conditional sentence. She was ordered to not be in New Brunswick after November 20, 2023.
On Monday, November 20, 2023, the same female suspect, along with a 26-year-old man, reportedly returned to another business in a UHAUL truck to pick up tires that were allegedly purchased using a fraudulent credit card. Police located the suspects nearby and arrested them on fraud related offences. They were held in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
The suspects are reportedly from out of province and investigators believe they may be responsible for similar crimes inside and outside of Saint John. The Fraud Unit continues to investigate.
Local businesses are encouraged to take extra precautions for large purchases involving the use of credit cards. In some cases, active credit cards can be cloned unbeknownst to the cardholder, and transactions will not necessarily be declined at the time of purchase. Businesses may not be aware of the fraud until days after the product is picked up or delivered once the actual cardholder detects the suspicious transactions on their account. Businesses should set transactions limits that require contacting the cardholder directly through their credit card company to verify transactions at the time of sale.
Cardholders should monitor their accounts regularly and sign up for real time transaction alerts through their credit card company to quicky identify and report potential fraud.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saint John Police Force at 1-506-648-3333, or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1-800-222-T.I.P.S.
