Crime & Safety

CT Man Arrested for Trying to Steal Card Info from Darien ATM: Police

According to police, the 45-year-old New London man is accused of using an "ATM skimming device" at a Bank of America.

Darien police say they’ve arrested a 45-year-old New London man illegally capturing credit and debit card information at a downtown ATM machine.

Ahmet Cilek, of 18 Walden Ave., New London, was arrested Monday night and charged with two counts of conspiracy to identity theft, unlawful reproduction of a credit card, fraudulent use of an automated teller machine, third-degree criminal attempt to larceny and unlawful use of a scanning device.

According to police, Cilek placed a so-called “ATM skimming device”— an electronic reader that captures credit and debit card information at ATM machines as well as PIN numbers associated with cards—at a Bank of America at 7 Sedgwick Ave.

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Officials at the bank alerted police to their suspicions of the skimming device at about 8:45 p.m., according to a press release from Det. Mark Cappelli, the Darien Police Department’s public information officer.

“Members of the Darien Police Department and members of the Connecticut Financial Crimes Unit conducted a surveillance of the bank and subsequently observed a white male wearing a camouflage shirt acting suspiciously in the area,” Cappelli said in the release. “The male attempted to elude the police but was eventually detained in the area of Old King’s Highway North and Brookside Road.”

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The suspect, Cilek, is known to police in New London, Cappelli said, and law enforcement officials say he is accused of similar crimes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as other parts of Connecticut. 

“Cilek has an extensive criminal history in Virginia, New York and Connecticut,” Cappelli said.

He was held on $100,000 bond and transported to state Superior Court in Stamford, where he’s scheduled to appear June 30, police said.

Anyone with further information, or thinks that they may have fallen victim to this incident is asked to contact the Darien Police Department Detective Bureau at 203-662-5330.


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