Southern California has long been ground zero for credit card skimmers and identity theft hackers.
Thousands of times a day in Southern California, trusting drivers hand their cars over to valets. But some need to be a lot more careful, according to law enforcement.
As part of a larger investigation into an organized credit card skimming crime ring, the Southern California High Tech Crimes Task Force busted a valet driver skimming credit cards left in high-end cars at a Westside eatery.
Hidden camera video, given to NBCLA by Crime Stoppers Executive Director Mark Spear, shows the valet allegedly skimming credit cards with a tiny hand-sized skimmer, all in a matter of seconds.
It's all part of a sting operation to catch a ring of thieves targeting customers at popular Westside restaurants.
Agents of the task force used an FBI unmarked vehicle wired with hidden cameras to catch the valet red-handed. The valet is seen looking through the center console of the car, pulling out credit cards and then skimming them with his hand-held device.
The FBI and the LA County Sheriff's Department are part of the joint operation.
The thieves are after "some big names, possibly, and some big money," said Spear.
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Authorities said the crime-ring planted operatives at valet companies parking cars at some of Los Angeles' upscale restaurants.
"Those are the credit cards skimmers really want to get," said Spear.
The identity thief ring was specifically going after charge cards with high or unlimited credit lines, because those cards are worth the most on the black market. Authorities say a thief could steal $15,000 from one of those cards before the bank or cardholder figures out the cards have been taken.
The suspect in the video, Ivan Retana, is part of an identity theft ring targeting restaurants in West Lost Angeles, said Spear.
"(Retana) was the only one at this particular restaurant that was doing this to our knowledge. But part of this group, there were other valets working at other restaurants and other hotel areas within LA County," Spear said.
Retana allegedly used a phony driver's license to get a job with Pro Image Valet, an independent company that was contracted to park cars at the Spark Wood Fire Grill, a restaurant that caters to studio executives.
Restaurant owner Elizabeth Chait was stunned when she saw the video.
"I would just like the public to understand that it's an independent valet company. I am totally out of control of who they hire," Chait said.
Investigators said they believe the restaurant and the valet company are victims too.
"I just hope they catch this guy, and the FBI figures out this ring and keeps us all safer," Chait said.
Pro Image Valet said they diligently screen their employees and that Retana's driver's license was not flagged by their insurance company. They said that this was a one-time incident involving one employee who was with them for less than a year and no longer works for them.
As for Retana, Spark said, "We believe he is in South America. He took off."
Spark Wood Fire Grill and Pro Image Valets had nothing to do with this, according to investigators. Anyone with information about this case can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
