Gonzales store spared by Buc-ee’s theft ring

Despite the fact that a large identity theft operation in Texas has been targeting several of Buc-ee’s super stations, the Gonzales location has not been affected, a local store spokesperson said.

Buc-ee’s store manager Debbie Malatek explained that although the store recently upgraded its credit card processors, the action had nothing to do with the theft ring, but was designed to accommodate customers with newer credit cards that use microprocessor chips.

“These types of thefts have not come through any of our technology,” Malatek said. “The reason we upgraded our credit card machines is because a lot of the newer credit cards come with a chip on the back. The machines can read the chip to approve your credit card.”

In other stores across the state, thieves have utilized stolen credit card information to steal $18,000 from at least 14 Buc-ee’s locations, according to Freeport Police Capt. Ray Garivey, who said the first reports of credit card theft surfaced in July. When FPD contacted Buc-ee’s, they discovered that similar thefts had occurred at Buc-ee’s locations as far away as Temple.

Garivey said the thieves steal credit card information online, and use a special machine to load it onto a blank card.

Suspects were able to buy a magnetic strip writer and blank cards online.

Later, customers call their credit card companies to report the fraudulent charges. Their money is returned, but Buc-ee’s gets stuck with the bill for the stolen items.

Garivey said the thieves are primarily targeting American Express customers and are mostly buying cigarettes by the carton.

“I bet [they’re] taking those to sell on the black market,” Garivey said. “Not to smoke.”

On Sept. 25, Freeport police released surveillance camera footage of the alleged thieves at a Buc-ee’s in hopes of identifying them.

Malatek said she is well aware of the fraudulent activities at other stores, but maintains that so far Gonzales has not been affected.

“This is a theft ring who has fake credit cards,” Malatek said. “They’re getting stolen credit cards at other entities and using them at Buc-ee’s. They have hit some other stores, but not any around here. I check my store records every day, and nothing has happened.”