A Texas woman was waiting for a replacement debit card to arrive in the mail when more than $800 in unauthorized transactions suddenly appeared on her account.
She still had her original debit card. The replacement had never reached her.
Detectives traced purchases made with the card to 36-year-old Kenneth Austen Belken and obtained a warrant for his arrest, according to News 4 San Antonio.
But the debit card investigation quickly became something much larger. Police say a search of Belken’s vehicle uncovered mail bearing the names of more than 1,000 different people.
The Case Started With More Than $800 in Unauthorized Transactions
The investigation began Aug. 18 when the woman contacted Del Rio police about transactions she said she had not authorized. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from businesses where the disputed card had been used. Police say that footage led them to identify Belken as the suspect and obtain an arrest warrant.
Police located Belken on Aug. 25 as he drove on U.S. Highway 90 East near Railway Avenue in Del Rio and arrested him without incident. During an inventory of his vehicle after the arrest, officers noticed what police described as a significant amount of mail that did not belong to him.
Investigators secured the vehicle rather than immediately searching the material and obtained a separate search warrant. Police say the subsequent search uncovered mail bearing the names of more than 1,000 different people, dramatically expanding the scope of the investigation beyond the woman whose debit-card complaint started the case.
Police have not said whether the woman’s replacement debit card was recovered from Belken’s vehicle or established publicly how the card allegedly came into his possession. Detectives are now working to identify additional potential victims and determine whether the recovered mail is connected to other criminal activity.
Belken Faces Debit Card Abuse and Mail Theft Charges
Belken was charged with credit card or debit card abuse and mail theft. After being processed at the Del Rio Police Department, he was transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility, according to current reporting.
Police said the investigation remains active and additional charges could follow as detectives determine where the recovered mail came from and whether other people suffered financial losses. Belken has not been convicted of the charges. The allegations against him remain pending.
A Replacement Card That Does Not Arrive Should Be Reported Quickly
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service advises consumers who are expecting a credit card, check or other valuable piece of mail to contact the sender if it does not arrive as expected. USPIS specifically warns against leaving valuable mail sitting in a mailbox and recommends collecting delivered mail promptly.
If a replacement debit card is overdue, customers can contact the issuing bank through its official app, website or known customer-service number and ask whether the card was mailed, whether it has been activated and whether it should be canceled and replaced again.
Unauthorized debit-card transactions should also be reported promptly. The Federal Trade Commission warns that the amount a consumer could be responsible for after debit-card theft can depend on how quickly the loss or unauthorized activity is reported.
Consumers who suspect their mail was stolen can report the incident to the Postal Inspection Service online or at 1-877-876-2455. USPS also offers Informed Delivery, which can provide digital previews of eligible incoming letter mail and make it easier to notice when an expected financial document does not arrive.