KPD e-News Release: Suspect Identity Sought in Motor Vehicle Theft and Subsequent Credit Card Fraud

NEWS RELEASE

	Kingsport Police Department Dale Phipps, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://KingsportTN.gov/City-Services/Police-Department• www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Suspect Identity Sought in Motor Vehicle Theft and Subsequent Credit Card Fraud
DATE:		July 8, 2021
CASE #:		21-011346 (Motor Vehicle Theft) 21-013477 (Credit Card Fraud/Walmart) 21-013478 (Credit Card Fraud/Sonic)

GENERAL NARRATIVE
On June 2, 2021, between the hours of 12:00 Noon and 4:30 PM, a silver Ford 500 sedan was stolen from a parking lot, located in the 1600 block of East Stone Drive in Kingsport, while the owner was at work at an adjacent business. Also stolen along with the vehicle was the owner’s purse which contained, among other things, her credit card. The car was recovered the next day, parked at the Westside Inn, located at 1017 West Stone Drive; however, on the same day that the vehicle was taken, the stolen credit card was used to make two fraudulent purchases. One of these was for $273.75 at Walmart, located at 3200 Fort Henry Drive, and the other for $19.44 at Sonic, located at 3845 Fort Henry Drive. The suspect was captured on surveillance video during the Walmart incident. A photo taken from that footage has been included in this release. The suspect appears to have a bandage on his left calf which might help identify him. Anyone who recognizes him is asked to contact the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111. Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online “Citizen Feedback” forms available at the following link: https://www.kingsporttn.gov/city-services/police-department/contact-us In this incident, the vehicle had been left unlocked and unattended for several hours, and valuables as well as a spare key to the vehicle had been left inside it unsecured. The occurrence of the crimes of Motor Vehicle Theft and Auto Burglary can easily be lessened or even prevented altogether by utilizing the following common sense measures: 1) Never leave your vehicle unlocked while unattended. 2) Never leave the key inside your parked and unoccupied vehicle. 3) Never leave your car key in any unsecure location. 4) Never leave your vehicle running unless you are actually in it. 5) Never leave items of real or perceived value in plain sight inside your vehicle. Following these simple steps will go a long way toward deterring these crimes in our city, and reducing your chances of becoming the next victim of the crimes of Motor Vehicle Theft or Auto Burglary.