Card Skimmer Installed At Middlesex County Wawa, Suspect In ICE Custody: PD

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — Old Bridge Police say a man from Romania installed a skimming device on the credit card reader at the Rt. 34 Wawa on the Old Bridge/Matawan border.

The man is suspected to be associated with an organized crime ring, said police Wednesday. He is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The skimming device obtained card numbers when people used them at the store. At least six Old Bridge residents and one Sayreville resident had their credit card numbers stolen, said police.

Since February, Old Bridge Police have been investigating who installed the skimmer, and they put a post on their Facebook page Feb. 28 asking the public if they could identify a man pictured in the Wawa's security cameras.

Thanks to tips called in from the public, the suspect was identified as Constantin Gavrila Balauta, a citizen of Romania, said police. He was charged with seven counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking (2C:20-3A), seven counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (2C:21-6H) and seven counts of Forgery (2C:21-1A(3)).

"This successful outcome is a testament to the tireless efforts of Old Bridge Police Department Detectives Dan Haviland and Joe Ramm, whose investigative skills and dedication were instrumental in resolving this case," said Old Bridge Police in a statement. "With the aid of facial recognition technology, support from Interpol, and with the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies, the detectives were able to identify and charge the suspect. We also extend our sincere thanks to the members of the public who responded to our request for information. The community’s cooperation played a crucial role in the successful resolution of this investigation."