April 16, 2010
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News: Nordstrom's Clerk Helps Nab Thieves
Two California men on a road trip to Palo Alto, Texas were dressing fine at the expense of another credit card customer. John Santner and Michael Catalano stole a Texas resident's personal information and used it to open a credit card account at the local Nordstrom's Department Store. According to Palo Alto Police Officer Rich Bullerjahn, an alert store associate became suspicious of the two identity thieves and reported them to the store's security officer. The sales associate thought it strange that Santner was using a new issued temporary credit card to purchase large numbers of expensive apparel. The security officer immediately called the victim who confirmed that he was not at the store shopping.
By this time, the two credit card thieves were on their way out the door; however, a shopping center security officer remembered the two and observed them getting into a white Dodge van. An alert was issued and Officer Brad Young spotted the vehicle and pulled them over. To no avail, Santner tried to convince the officer that he was the individual listed on the stolen card. Young held the two until the security officer could arrive to identify the two thieves. The officers found over $5,000 in merchandise that the two men purchased with the stolen credit card information including several Jimmy Choo purses, Hugo Boss shoes and other expensive products. The police also found crystal methamphetamine on the two.
The police were able to recover all the merchandise that had been purchased with the stolen credit card. Both suspects have been charged with felony burglary, identity theft, drug possession and theft. Santner, who was on parole for an earlier incident of identity theft in San Francisco, was also charged with giving false information to a police officer. It is not known whether bond was set or if the two remain in jail awaiting trial.