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Two Arrested in Brooklyn With Bank Card Skimmer Near A.T.M. Two Arrested at Brooklyn Bank With A.T.M. Fraud Device
(about 3 hours later)
It was meant to be a quick crime, the police said: Place a skimming machine over the card reader outside a Chase branch after dark, stick a couple of cameras above the keypads on the cash machines inside and wait to collect the numbers from unsuspecting customers.It was meant to be a quick crime, the police said: Place a skimming machine over the card reader outside a Chase branch after dark, stick a couple of cameras above the keypads on the cash machines inside and wait to collect the numbers from unsuspecting customers.
Two hours later, on Tuesday night, two men who the police said were would-be thieves returned to the bank branch, at 290 Flatbush Avenue on the northern edge of Park Slope in Brooklyn.Two hours later, on Tuesday night, two men who the police said were would-be thieves returned to the bank branch, at 290 Flatbush Avenue on the northern edge of Park Slope in Brooklyn.
By that time, they were under surveillance by the police.By that time, they were under surveillance by the police.
“We’ve seen that these people are starting to leave these devices on for not that long a time,” said Detective Robert Cimino of the Police Department’s financial crimes task force. “Short, quick hits.”“We’ve seen that these people are starting to leave these devices on for not that long a time,” said Detective Robert Cimino of the Police Department’s financial crimes task force. “Short, quick hits.”
If the two men had plans to go to other spots that night, they ended when plainclothes police officers knocked on the glass door of the bank’s A.T.M. area at about 10 p.m. The men opened the door for the strangers, not realizing who they were. “They were very cordial, very polite,” Detective Cimino said on Wednesday.If the two men had plans to go to other spots that night, they ended when plainclothes police officers knocked on the glass door of the bank’s A.T.M. area at about 10 p.m. The men opened the door for the strangers, not realizing who they were. “They were very cordial, very polite,” Detective Cimino said on Wednesday.
Then the men were arrested and charged with  burglary, criminal possession of a forgery device and criminal possession of a skimmer device.Then the men were arrested and charged with  burglary, criminal possession of a forgery device and criminal possession of a skimmer device.
The police identified the men as Laurentiu Baies, 35, and Marcel Boariu, 36. They are Romanian nationals who have been in the country for about a month, the police said. Neither could be immediately reached for comment. They appeared to be linked to a larger criminal conspiracy surrounding the creation of fake cards used to withdraw cash, the detective said, though he would not provide details, citing a continuing investigation.The police identified the men as Laurentiu Baies, 35, and Marcel Boariu, 36. They are Romanian nationals who have been in the country for about a month, the police said. Neither could be immediately reached for comment. They appeared to be linked to a larger criminal conspiracy surrounding the creation of fake cards used to withdraw cash, the detective said, though he would not provide details, citing a continuing investigation.
The skimming devices have been found at banks both large and small, as well as at cash machines in corner stores. They will occasionally be moved between numerous locations on a given day, Detective Cimino said.The skimming devices have been found at banks both large and small, as well as at cash machines in corner stores. They will occasionally be moved between numerous locations on a given day, Detective Cimino said.
“To the untrained eye, they’re very difficult to spot, especially in low-lit areas,” he said. The best defense: Cover your code as you enter it, so it cannot be matched to the card number. “They can’t use one without the other,” Detective Cimino said.“To the untrained eye, they’re very difficult to spot, especially in low-lit areas,” he said. The best defense: Cover your code as you enter it, so it cannot be matched to the card number. “They can’t use one without the other,” Detective Cimino said.