CAPCOG and the Texas Department of Agriculture have partnered to fund $75,000 of specialized surveillance patrols targeting credit- and debit-card skimmer crimes at gas stations throughout the region. CAPCOG will accept applications from local policing agencies until July 17.
According to the FBI, crimes related to card skimmers cost the U.S. billions in economic losses each year. Skimmer related thefts are a regular occurrence in Central Texas at gas pumps in both high- and low-traffic areas. CAPCOG has trained officers to recognize skimming devices, spot suspected perpetrators, and investigate these crimes so cases can make it to trial, but this funding opportunity goes beyond training allowing agencies to dedicate officers to surveilling businesses that sell gas and catching criminals in the act.
CAPCOG will give priority to those areas with the highest number of reported incidents and to those agencies with officers who have completed CAPCOG’s skimmer training. Also taken into consideration is if the agency has demonstrated efforts to address reported incidents but are limited on resources to conduct surveillance.
