Three ATM Skimmers Discovered at 7-Eleven Locations

ATM skimmers were recovered at three 7-Eleven ATMs last month, Torrance police said Monday.

Police discovered the first skimmer on June 1 at the 7-Eleven on the 3000 block of Artesia Boulevard. They said they do not know when the skimmer was placed there.

The Torrance Police Department noted that two other skimmers, located on the 20000 block of Hawthorne Boulevard, and on the 18000 block of Prairie Avenue, were placed between July 7 and July 21.

Victims reported fraudulent charges on their cards after using one of those ATMs, according to authorities.

In all three cases, police say the thieves began by swiping the ATM's card reader with one that stores data. A camera is also inserted to record customers card numbers. It's all designed to look like a normal card reader, but customers then learn money has been stolen from their accounts.

"These skimming devices store data and we have come across ones in the past that have also emitted the information via WiFi," said Sgt. Paul Kranke of the Torrance Police Department.

Police say ATMs at convenience stores are targeted because, unlike banks, they often don't have surveillance cameras attached.