Device apparently was in operation early on morning of Sept. 13, Police Department says
On Sept. 13, a suspected skimming device was located on a gas pump at the Citgo located at 2201 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, the Sarasota Police Department has announced.
Officers believe the device was installed on Sept. 12, after the store closed, a news release says. The device was discovered at 9 a.m. on Sept. 13, the release adds. It reportedly had been on Pump No. 1 from 6 until 9 a.m. before employees discovered it, the release points out.
The incident was reported to the Sarasota Police Department on Tuesday, Sept. 18, the release says. “The device has been removed and collected as evidence.”
The department is offering the following safety tips for customers at fuel pumps:
- Choose a fuel pump that is close to the entrance of the store.
- Use a credit card for the transaction, not a debit card or pay inside and use cash.
The Sarasota Police Department is encouraging customers who recently may have purchased gas at the Citgo located at 2201 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota to pay close attention to bank accounts and look for any unknown transactions, “regardless of how small they may be,” the release stresses. If anything seems suspicious, customers are encouraged to contact their banks immediately.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 941-954-7070, leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or going online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.