Sonoma police are investigating an ATM theft that cost a local resident $11,000.
On January 14th, the victim was using the Wells Fargo ATM in Sonoma when a suspect approached, claiming to have found a $5 bill. While the victim was briefly distracted, the suspect swapped their ATM card with a stolen one, having already observed the victim’s PIN.
The suspect then made multiple unauthorized withdrawals. Police Chief Brandon Cutting described it as a “sleight of hand” crime, emphasizing that while this victim was elderly, anyone could fall victim to this type of scam.
Police advise ATM users to be aware of their surroundings and shield their PIN entry. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working with Wells Fargo to identify the suspect.
