The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help with identifying a suspect who broke into a parked car and stole credit cards which he later used and attempted to use at locations in Dalton, Varnell, Ringgold, and Chattanooga. The suspect got away with between $300 and $500 of purchases.
The incident happened between 2 and 4 p.m. on Aug. 26, in the parking lot of a doctor’s office at 1405 Dug Gap Road. An employee’s car was broken into by smashing the passenger side window. A purse containing credit cards, debit cards and checks was taken. When police arrived, the victims were already in the process of cancelling their bank cards and discovered that they had been used at the BP gas station on Walnut Avenue and a Shell station on Varnell Road.
The clerk at the BP station told investigators that the suspect attempted to use a credit card at the gas pumps and the card did not work. He then went inside to try to make a purchase. When the clerk asked to see his ID, the suspect told the clerk he’d left it in his car and left. He then drove away in a silver Nissan XTerra that had the license plate removed. The suspect was described as a white male with a shaved bald head wearing a white T-shirt, shorts, and sunglasses.
Investigators then went to the Shell station where the suspect was successful in making two purchases totaling approximately $150. The suspect was recorded on the store’s surveillance system. The credit cards were later used in Ringgold and Chattanooga before the activity on the accounts stopped.
Anyone with information on these incidents or the identity of this suspect is asked to contact Detective Sam Eaton with the Dalton Police Department at 706 278-9085, ext. 158.