Chicago Police Officer suspected in credit card thefts

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A Chicago police officer has been relieved of his powers while authorities investigate allegations that he was part of a credit-card theft ring that preyed on intoxicated people downtown, police said Friday.

Police said they have been investigating the scam, which has affected at least 20 victims, for about six weeks. Belmont Area Police Cmdr. Thomas Byrne said one member of the ring would befriend people in or near bars in the Rush Street area downtown and invite them out for more drinks.


Once the victims were inebriated, the man would then take the victims to ATMs, where he watched them remove money and memorized their passwords, said police spokeswoman Monique Bond.

He then would take the victim's card, most likely through pickpocketing, and give it to other ring members to get cash and items at grocery stores, Byrne said.

Three men have been charged and police are searching for a fourth, the man who befriended victims.

Remember,this is the town where police have a monopoly on gun ownership.