Man arrested with skimming devices and personal information

Around 7 p.m. Tuesday, Turlock police responded to the Bank of America location in the 500 block of E. Main Street to investigate a case of identity theft.

Detective Urban and the police had reason to believe that the suspect vehicle, found in ATM skimming devices found throughout the city, would be present there.

Sure enough, officers located the vehicle at the ATM drive-thru window and stopped it.

The police contacted the driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Czech Mihai Lupu, and clearly identified him as the suspect.

During a subsequent search of Lupu’s vehicle, officers found numerous skimming devices, counterfeit cards, tools, and other electronic equipment used to recover skimming devices.

In total, Lupu accessed the personal data of more than 10 people, using it for fraudulent purposes.

Lupu also did not have a license.

Lupu was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on four separate charges related to identity theft and driving without a valid license.

Additionally, Lupu’s vehicle was towed.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information that could assist is asked to contact Detective Urban at 209-668-6571.