The Plano Police Department recently investigated potential financial crimes in the city. The department initiated a comprehensive city-wide operation targeting illegal ATM skimming devices and apprehending the individuals behind the installation.
On Feb. 15, 2024, the Plano Police Department collaborated with the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations and the United States Secret Service on the operation, dubbed "Sanitize the City."
The operation mobilized a team of 30 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies. They examined over 500 vulnerable sites across Plano, ranging from ATMs to retail outlets, motels and gas stations — key locations where people conduct transactions or withdraw funds.
The collaborative endeavor aimed to preemptively identify and dismantle criminal networks employing skimming devices to unlawfully obtain financial data from unsuspecting victims. “The Plano Police Department is committed to keeping its citizens safe from all forms of financial crime and will continue to work diligently in our efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for stealing from our community,” the department said in a statement.
According to police, the operation's success stemmed from the collaboration of the involved agencies, bolstered by the detection tools furnished by the USSS. While indications of tampering were discovered at certain sites, no skimming devices were uncovered throughout the operation.
“The Secret Service works hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to help protect communities from financial crime,” Acting Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dallas Field Office Christina Foley said in a statement. “By being proactive with these investigations, we are able to not only prevent residents from becoming victims, but gather the intelligence needed to track down those responsible and put a stop to these criminal operations.”
The department encourages anyone with information about this investigation to call 972.941.2148.
