After five skimmers were discovered at three different Hаrvеy Supеrmаrkеt locations in Jаcksоnvillе, two men were arrested and are facing charges of possession of skimming devices.
Thе Jаcksоnvillе Shеriff’s Оfficе mаdе thе аrrеsts fоllоwing аn invеstigаtiоn lеd by thе Nоrth Flоridа Cybеr Frаud Tаsk Fоrcе аnd thе Sеcrеt Sеrvicе.
The cash register skimmers were discovered at Harvey Supermarkets. The first skimmer was discovered on November 1 at the downtown location on Market Street, but it wasn’t reported to the police until November 10 since the store director was out of town.
After the first skimmer was found, Southern Grocers—Harveys’ parent company—issued a warning to all of its North Florida locations.
Two more skimmers were discovered at each of the Harveys’ stores on Moncrief Road West and Edgewood Avenue West, for a total of four.
The 22-year-old Armando Ilié was spotted entering the Harveys store on Moncrief Road West on November 14 before hastily leaving in a waiting car. Store security got a hold of the tag number and alerted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Officers pulled over a car driven by 40-year-old Florin Grigoire and arrested him and his passenger on five counts of possessing skimming devices. They are being held without a bond at the moment.
The arrest reports do not include the exact number of affected customers or the amount of money lost as a result of the skimming devices.
Southern Grocers has thanked its diligent associates and law enforcement for their prompt response and partnership in preventing a potential security breach at its facilities.
