$1,000 reward offered for Douglas ATM thief

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has joined in a statewide search for a 40- to 50-year-old man suspected of using stolen debit/ATM cards to buy money orders and make withdrawals from bank machines.

Secret Witness is offering a $1,000 reward.

Sgt. Jim Halsey said Thursday the suspect used the cards in July and August at Money Express Center machines at local Walmart stores to purchase and redeem money orders under fraudulent names.

He also is accused of using the cards to make withdrawals from ATM machines.

Halsey said the loss in Douglas County is up to $5,000, but there may be other unreported withdrawals.

Halsey said the cards have been traced to victims who reported their cards stolen.

In some cases, Halsey said, the victims were still in possession of their cards.

"Investigators believe the suspect has the ability to manufacture cards using valid victim account information," Halsey said.

Incidents have occurred in Douglas and surrounding counties in Northern Nevada as well as Las Vegas, he said.

The suspect is described as a 40-to-50-year-old man of Middle Eastern or Hispanic descent, heavy set, with dark, short hair and wearing wire-rimmed glasses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Ed Garren at 775-782-9908 or Secret Witness at 775-782-7463.

Calls to Secret Witness are anonymous.