Police learning more about Wheeling, Buffalo Grove ATM thefts

A Wheeling police official said Thursday several of the victims of a recent string of automated teller machine thefts all swiped their debit cards at one particular store in town.

Deputy Police Chief John Teevans would not identify the store where customers' cards were compromised. He estimates the total loss for all victims will exceed $100,000 once police have wrapped up the investigation.

The Secret Service also is investigating the case, he said.

Teevans said the police department started receiving complaints from customers on Sept. 12 about thefts from their checking accounts.

Wheeling and Buffalo Grove police are jointly investigating the crimes, which involved unsuspecting victims from both towns.

Police have received complaints of roughly 30 unauthorized debits of between $200 and $700 since Sunday.

Teevans said the thief or thieves made fake debit cards and used pin numbers the customers typed onto the card swiping machine at the store to withdraw hundreds of dollars.

Of the 27 reported incidents so far, 18 of the thefts occurred at ATMs in California, with a few cases in Illinois and Ohio.

Teevans said another Lake County police department has received similar complaints of ATM thefts, but wouldn't name the town.