Skimming devices found on ATMs across Chicago

CHICAGO (Fox 32 News) - Chicago police issued a community alert after skimming devices were found at several locations on the city’s North Side.

Police issued a similar alert Friday after they said the skimming devices were found at three Walgreens stores inside the loop.

With the holidays coming up, experts said now is the time for extra vigilance.

The locations include:

• Associated Bank in the 5200 block of North Central on Sept. 23.
• Walgreens in the 1500 block of West Fullerton Avenue on Sept. 26.
• 7-Eleven in the 10700 block of S. Ewing Avenue on Sept. 27.
• Walgreens in the 1600 block of West Belmont Avenue on Oct. 2.
• Fifth Third Bank in the 600 block of West Diversey on Oct. 4.
• Chase Bank in the 5600 block of West Montrose Avenue on October 6.
• Walgreens in the 400 block of N. Michigan Avenue on Oct. 8.
• Walgreens in the 2300 block of West Irving Park Road on Oct. 8.
• Fifth Third Bank in the first block of West Division Street on Oct. 9.
• Walgreens in the 3100 block of West Irving Park Road on Oct. 11.
• Walgreens in the 200 block of West Madison Street in the Loop on Oct. 12.
• Walgreens in the 100 block of North State Street in the Loop on Oct. 12.
• Walgreens in the first block of West Monroe Street in the Loop on Oct. 18.

“If you can avoid it, don't use ATM machines anywhere else but your bank … test the ATM section where you're sliding your card in, and pull on it. If it pulls off in your hand, it's a skimmer,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and co-founder of Keeper Security.

Walgreens issued a statement: "Any business that offers an ATM as a convenience to their customers could face this issue. The ATMs in our drugstores are owned and operated by a third party and at our request they immediately began to inspect all ATMs in our Chicago locations."

Guccione said if you pull on the portion of the ATM where you slide your card and a skimmer comes off, contact police, not store management.