The calls started trickling in during the second week in May. Money was disappearing from people’s bank accounts, but none of the callers had lost an ATM card.

It quickly became apparent to Redondo Beach Police Department detectives that all these victims had one thing in common: they’d used an ATM machine to pay for gas at the ARCO station on PCH and Prospect.

“Ultimately, the common denominator was the ARCO gas station on PCH,” said RBPD Det. Michael Strosnider.

Police have since identified more than 1,000 victims who have been taken for over $200,000 in a theft apparently perpetrated by the use of a “skimming” device that obtained customer’s debit card information as they paid for gas.

Suspicion has centered on a Russian-speaking former ARCO employee who went by the name of Erick Volonski who disappeared abruptly in late April, allegedly stealing a laptop and thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes from the service station. Police believe the man, who worked at the station since October, used falsified identification.

“The former employee is a person of interest right now,” Strosnider said. “We believe he is connected in some fashion. However, there is no evidence right now. But because of the way he disappeared and the false information he was working under, we can all assume he was involved.”

Withdrawals using the stolen debit card information have occurred all over the Los Angeles area and at least one other man has been photographed by bank surveillance cameras.

“I think this is part of an organized crime group,” Strosnider said. “I am working with other local agencies and federal agencies that have a little bit more experience in this particular area. I’d like to see if anyone knows who this person is.”

“This is the type of case that can be very lengthy and requires patience,” he added. “It is not one that is going to be solved overnight.” ER