MILBRIDGE, Maine — State police are investigating a theft at the Family Dollar store in Milbridge that was conducted by phone and involved prepaid cards for services or merchandise.
The incident, which occurred Sept. 17, remains under investigation, and there are no suspects at this time, Sgt. Alden Bustard reported on Tuesday.
A person called the store about 8 a.m. and said they were with the company’s “tech department,” according to state police. The caller said there were problems with the store cash registers and requested to perform some tests to ensure they were working properly.
At the caller’s request, a clerk checked out three prepaid gift cards totaling $1,235, according to Bustard.
The clerk became suspicious and notified the store manager by phone, and in the process the incoming call was terminated.
The funds from the prepaid cards apparently were transferred to a bank account controlled by the caller, indicated Bustard.
It wasn’t clear if the caller was male or female, according to Bustard. It appeared that only one person was involved in the theft, he said.
It was the first theft of this type in the region that he was aware of, said Bustard.