Man gets probation in stolen credit card case

A Prospect Heights man was placed on probation for two years after he admitted stealing credit card numbers from the Lincolnshire restaurant where he worked.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips also ordered Warren Santa Cruz, 39, to pay $8,775 in restitution to the banks that issued the cards to the victims.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Santa Cruz, of the 1000 block of Cove Drive, was a waiter at a restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire between Nov. 1, 2008 and Jan. 26, 2009.

On Jan. 23, 2009, Santa Cruz was at an electronics store in Glenview and was trying to buy 10 iPods with several gift cards.

Security officers at the store became suspicious of the transaction, Stanton said, and took Santa Cruz to the store's office to question him.

During the questioning, Santa Cruz turned over a total of 38 gift cards that had a combined value of $3,750.

Police were called, and a search of Santa Cruz's residence turned up more gift cards and a credit-card number recording device.

Santa Cruz told police he was swiping credit cards customers were using at the restaurant in the recording device he had, then transferring the numbers to the gift cards.

In addition to the probation and restitution, Santa Cruz must perform 120 hours of public service and forfeit any computer or other electronic equipment seized in the investigation.

Santa Cruz pleaded guilty to identity theft, and could have faced up to seven years in prison if he had been convicted after a trial.