It was a three-county spree for four Flint Michigan men that started in Somerset County and ended in Blair County.
Monday police in Cambria County addressed the theft that happened in Richland Township.
“In that case they used the bogus credit cards to make a purchase of $10,000 worth of gift cards,” Richland Township detective Thomas Keirn explained.
Police said the suspects bought 20 gift cards from the Rite Aid on Scalp Avenue. Each gift card had $499.95 placed on it.
Police told us staying under $500 helped to keep them under the radar.
Brandon Walker, Michael Toles, Andre Edward-Morgan, and still on the run, Tyler Lamar Walker then headed to Allegheny Township in Blair County.
“When they got to Allegheny Township, the folks at the Walmart I believe over there were aware of the circumstance. When they showed up the local police over there made an apprehension of three of the four suspects.”
Tyler Lamar Walker was driving the car and fled when he saw police.
Police said the men were calm while making the purchases. The gift cards that they bought can be used anywhere.
“I believe that they’re readily able to sell and trade them for drugs and use them for whatever they want.”
According to the criminal complaints, this happened on September 14. Richland police said it wasn’t until days later when they were notified, as the Rite Aid employees made the connection.
“It was at that point that they were starting to discover they had a problem and then that’s when they called us and said hey we think this may be the same young, black male individuals committing the same crime here.”
Police told WTAJ they have not determined if these cards are still out there and are active, but it’s part of their investigation.
They also mentioned that they’re working with state police in Michigan to track down Walker.