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Crime & Safety

Area Men Jailed for Identity Theft in Highland Park

Police thwart plot to steal customer bank account information.

Highland Park Police thwarted a plot by four men allegedly skimming customer information from a Chase ATM at 255 Skokie Valley Road, according to a release from the Highland Park Police Department. 

After receiving a tip of suspicious activity at the bank, detectives observed a man enter the bank vestibule and allegedly remove a device from the front of the ATM that authorities believe was used to record customer information. 

Earlier:

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The man was accompanied by three others who left in two separate vehicles, according to police. Officers later learned the vehicles were reported stolen. 

Later that day, police arrested Krassimire Angeeov, 43 of Northfield, Dimitre Gueorguiev, 23, of Wilmette, Stephen Georgiev, 23, of Winnetka and Asparouh Krouchovski, 32, of Schiller Park. All four men were charged by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office with burglary and identity theft, both Class 2 felonies carrying a three- to seven-year prison sentence. They also face a claim of fraudulent use of electronic transmission, a Class 4 felony which could cost them one to three years in jail.

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Angeeov and Krouchovski were also accused of possession of a stolen motor vehicle—a Class 2 felony. They remain in Lake County Jail unable to post the $5,000 cash portion of a $50,000 bond, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Court Clerk's office.The other two suspects are also in custody and have not paid the $2,500 cash part of their $25,000 bail. Bond was set Tuesday in Lake Criminal Court in Waukegan.

Police are continuing their investigation in cooperation with other local and federal law enforcement officials, as well as with Chase security to ensure customer information wasn't compromised.Meanwhile the Secret Service and FBI are also investigating the incidents, according to a story in the Pioneer Press.

The group may have targeted other area banks, including one in Northbrook. Several other devices and a large sum of cash were seized during the arrest.

All four men will return to court Sept. 14 for status hearing in Waukegan.

Stay tuned to Patch for more on the story.

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