By Neil Farrell
The San Luis Obispo Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects who have been using fraudulent credit cards and ID to rent generators and not return them.
According to Lt. Bill Proll, the man-woman team of grifters allegedly stole from at least four businesses in one day.
On Jan. 27, a man wh
o identified himself with a California driver’s license as John Powell, rented a $500 Honda generator from the Rental Depot, 202 Tank Farm Rd., using a pre-paid credit card. The generator was not returned and the credit card was “determined to be fraudulent,” said Lt. Proll. “The suspect is a white or Hispanic male in his mid to late-30s with black hair, and he was wearing ‘hospital scrubs’ during the theft.” He’s also described as “heavy set.”
That same day at another rental shop, a suspect who also used the name, John Powell, went into Wally’s Bicycles at 306 Higuera St., and rented a $2,500 bicycle for $75 using a pre-paid credit card. The bike wasn’t seen again and the credit card was of course fraudulent.
That suspect, Lt. Proll said, also wore hospital scrubs and said that he worked at Sierra Vista Hospital.
“Wally’s Bicycle store provided the police department with their video footage of the suspects and vehicle,” Lt. Proll said. “The video sho
ws the suspects arrived at the store driving a newer gray or silver Dodge minivan with what appears to have Cole Chrysler Dodge paper plates on the vehicle.”
That male suspect’s description matched the descriptions in the thefts from the other businesses that day, he said. The female suspect was described as a skinny, white or Hispanic, between 30-40-years old with long brown hair pulled back. The couple also had a brown dog, possibly a Labrador.
Using that same alias, John Powell, the suspect then went to Arsenal Equipment Rental, 3582 S. Higuera and rented a $1,000 Honda generator, again using a fake credit card and ID.
The thief was apparently so busy he didn’t have time to change his disguise. “The suspect’s description was identical to the person described in the theft from Wally’s Bicycles,” Lt. Proll said, “and was also wearing blue hospital scrubs.”
And finally the thieves wrapped up a busy day of grand larceny at Taylor Rental, 2790 Broad St., where they rented another Honda generator worth $4,000 and again skedaddled. This guy was also in scrubs but was described as in his 40s, as apparently grand theft wears on a guy. This one too had a female accomplice and a dog.
Police have been working the cases but reached a snag. “The police department has been investigating these thefts since we were notified,” Proll said. “We checked with Cole Chrysler Dodge and we do not believe the suspect’s vehicle was recently purchased from there. We also do not believe the suspect works at Sierra Vista Hospital. The California driver’s license is fraudulent and we have no other information regarding the suspects’ identity.”
Asked why steal generators? Lt. Proll replied, “I am not exactly sure why except that they probably end up in some remote area or used in the construction industry with not much chance of being looked at by a police officer. Nationwide a lot of generators do get stolen.”
Police ask anyone with information on these cases to contact them at the SLOPD or use Crime Stoppers, (805) 549-STOP.
