Police Chief shares details on card skimmers found at Piggly Wiggly stores

SAVANNAH, Tenn. — More card skimmers have been found at grocery stores in West Tennessee.

Thursday, a card skimmer was found at the Piggly Wiggly in Savannah. We wanted to learn a little bit more about the situation and how it was found and what are the details are regarding this event, so we visited the Savannah Police Department.

“So they asked our officers to come out to the store,” said Savannah Police Chief Michael Pitts. “Officers went out and collected the device. We started talking with other cities around us. We have found at least two other cities that have found similar devices at their Piggly Wiggly stores. So at this time we’ve been in contact with state and federal agencies to help move this investigation forward.”

These devices are placed right over the normal card readers, and the criminals are attempting to get your card information.

“Some work via internet, where it is immediately transmitting that information out,” Chief Pitts said. “Some work as a database where it is storing that information up. Then the individual will have to return and physically remove that device.”

If you live in this area and have been to the Piggly Wiggly recently, Chief Pitts wanted to share this information.

“If you’ve shopped at Piggly Wiggly, going back to probably the 19th or 20th, if you’ve shopped in that store, keep an eye on your bank account. Look for irregularities and purchases that are coming out that you didn’t make,” said Pitts.

So far, they have found card skimmers at Piggly Wiggly stores located along Highway 64 — Savannah, Adamsville, and most recently Waynesboro to be specific.

When we spoke with Chief Pitts Friday morning, he says the hope is that they retrieved the device in time and there should not be too many victims.

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