Two Arrested on Charges of Credit Card Theft

After an employee at Walgreens informed police that a man was trying to buy gift cards with credit cards that were repeatedly declined (a possible sign of credit card fraud), New Canaan police arrested two men.

Police gave this account (an accusation not proven in court):

At 9:52 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, James Shaw, 36, of Queens, NY was at the New Canaan Walgreens on Pine Street trying to buy a $100 Visa gift card with a credit card. That credit card and a second credit card Shaw took out were both declined. His third gift card then was accepted. Shaw had a photo ID that matched the name on the gift card, but that name wasn’t his.

Shaw left Walgreens and got in a car driven by another man, Shakim Coleman, 30, of Brooklyn. The two left by the time a police officer arrived at Walgreens to get more information about the men. As that officer interviewed a store employee, other police officers stopped the car that Shaw and Coleman were in.

Police found six credit cards on Shaw, only one of them with his name on them, and one greeting card. Shaw also had two small bags of crack cocaine on him, $100 gift card for TJMaxx and a $100 Visa gift card. Coleman had seven credit cards, six with his name on them and one with a different names.

Shaw, of 10929 Supthin Blvd. in Queens, was charged with possession of narcotics, using a vehicle without the owner’s permission, credit card theft, illegal use of a credit card, receiving goods or services obtained illegally and identity theft. His bond was initially set at $20,000. His bond was later raised to $50,000, which he posted. He is next due to appear May 27 in state Superior Court in Norwalk.

Coleman, of 108-39 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn, was charged with credit card theft, conspiracy to commit illegal use of a credit card and conspiracy to commit identity theft. His bond was also initially set at $20,000. His bond was later raised to $25,000, which he posted. He is next due to appear April 27 in state Superior Court in Norwalk.

Pictures: New Canaan police arrest photos of:

First picture: James Shaw, 36, of 10929 Supthin Blvd., Jamaica, Queens

Second picture: Shakim Coleman, 30, of 108-39 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn