Cincinnati police are asking the public for help tracking down a man accused of stealing a vehicle from a residence and then using the victims' own credit cards to go shopping. The theft happened earlier this month, and investigators say they still need the public's eyes to put a name to the suspect.
According to WKRC, the vehicle was taken from a residence on Marlowe Avenue near Hamilton Avenue on Sunday. Police say the same suspect then took the stolen van and the victims' credit cards to a UDF on Hamilton Avenue near Galbraith, where purchases were made with the stolen cards.
Purchases Made at Nearby UDF
Investigators say the suspect didn't waste much time cashing in on the theft, using the victims' cards for purchases at the Hamilton Avenue UDF the same day the van disappeared from the Marlowe Avenue property. Beyond the location and timing of the transactions, police have not released further details about what was purchased or how much was spent, and the dossier underlying this report does not specify a loss total or the suspect's identity.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (513)-352-3040. Tipsters may remain anonymous, and police have not said whether a reward is attached to information in this particular case.
Part of a Steady Drumbeat of Card-Fraud Cases
This isn't the only recent instance of Cincinnati police turning to the public for leads in a credit-card case. In October, District One investigators sought help identifying suspects tied to an October 10 incident, as Hoodline previously reported. A separate case detailed by WLWT involved a suspected theft tied to a stolen credit card at 4700 Paddock Road on Dec. 8, with that outlet noting tipsters could call Crimestoppers or submit anonymous tips through TIP411.com.
These kinds of appeals aren't new to the city. Back in 2019, FOX19 reported on a case where two people were suspected of stealing a woman's credit card and charging more than $4,600 worth of merchandise before the cards were canceled. The cases involved separate allegations of stolen credit cards and purchases made with them.
For now, the Marlowe Avenue case remains open, with no suspect publicly named and no word on whether charges have been filed. Police are continuing to lean on Crime Stoppers tips as they work to identify the man accused of taking the van and using the victims' cards.
