News Releases

Officers Investigate Theft of $6,700 Bathtub in Bethesda; Photograph Released

For Immediate Release: Monday, May 2, 2016

Officers from the Montgomery County Police – 2nd District are asking the public for help to identify a suspect who committed a theft from the Union Hardware store in Bethesda.

On April 26, 2nd District officers responded to the Union Hardware store located at 7800 Wisconsin Avenue for the report of a theft.  The investigation revealed that at approximately 1:30 p.m., the male suspect entered the store and wanted to purchase a $13,000 bathtub that was on sale for $6,700.  The suspect provided a credit card to an employee as payment but the credit card charge was initially declined.  The suspect told the employee that he would call the bank to find out why the charge was declined.  The suspect placed a call on his cellphone and handed the phone to the employee, telling the employee that the bank would instruct him on how to process the credit card charge.  The employee was given instructions over the phone on what to enter into the credit card machine in order to obtain an approval.  The employee followed the instructions and a receipt for the bathtub printed out, as if the purchase had been approved.

The suspect loaded the bathtub into a U-Haul truck that was parked outside the business.  A second male suspect was in the driver’s seat of the U-Haul.  The first suspect then entered the vehicle and the two suspects drove away.  Union Hardware was contacted by their bank a short time later and were notified that the credit card used to purchase the bathtub was a fraudulent credit card.

Today, officers are releasing a surveillance photograph of the theft suspect and are asking that anyone who recognizes him to please call the 2nd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6710.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 240-773-TIPS (8477) or Text-A-Tip to: CRIMES (274637), text MCPD and your crime tip.  Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this crime.

RLG

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Release ID: 16-110
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: credit-credit-theft-andor-fraud