PLYMOUTH - A former California Pizza Kitchen employee admitted skimming hundreds of credit card accounts this summer at the restaurant's carryout window.
The worker, who has not yet been arrested, was fired from her job and the investigation is continuing, according to the Plymouth Township Police Department.
After receiving complaints from American Express, police began an investigation of the compromised accounts.
Typically, thieves capture, or skim, credit accounts by attaching an electronic device to a card reader at retail stores that record credit account information when cards are swiped.
Skimming at a restaurant or bar is believed to be easier given that the card is often out of a customers' view temporarily, according to police. In some cases, a thief may use a keypad to transcribe personal identification numbers, or PINs.
After interviewing the suspect, a California Pizza Kitchen employee, investigators learned the alleged skimming occurred during July and August at the restaurant at 500 W. Germantown Pike in Plymouth.
The suspect, whose identity police have not disclosed publicly, allegedly skimmed "all types of credit cards and debit cards" belonging to customers who used the eatery's take-out window, police reported. Credit card accounts included American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard.
The investigation determined the customer accounts were reportedly transferred to counterfeit credit cards and used to make purchases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Police are asking restaurant customers who used the carryout between late July and the end of August, who have become victims of identity theft to call Detective
By: KEITH PHUCAS
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