San Juan Police Officer Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Colleague’s Debit Card

A police officer in San Juan was arrested after allegedly taking a colleague’s debit card and using it to make purchases worth more than 100,000 pesos at shops near their station in Chimbas.

The suspect, identified as Martín Gómez, had been assigned to the station fewer than 15 days earlier. He reportedly worked a shift from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the night the card disappeared from the wallet of a first corporal serving as a jail officer.

The victim later received notifications about a purchase at a nearby shop and recognized Gómez in security camera images. More alerts followed as additional purchases were made at businesses around the station. The victim told investigators he had previously seen Gómez in the area where officers leave their personal belongings.

The station chief ordered Gómez to take five days of leave while the inquiry continued. But the alerts resumed when Gómez apparently headed back toward the station and got off a bus near Chimbas square. He allegedly tried to make another purchase with the same card. Although the card had already been blocked, the notification prompted several officers to arrest him.

The case is being handled by prosecutor Nicolás Schiattino and assistant prosecutor Roxana Fernández of the Special Crimes Investigation Unit. Gómez was transferred to the 28th police station pending a formalization hearing, which could take place on Thursday. The article also says he was not carrying his service weapon because of a suspected positive cocaine test, although investigators still need to confirm that detail.