Police: New Yorkers with stolen gift cards arrested near Highland

Two men from New York who were driving an overdue rental car were in the Madison County Jail after they were arrested on suspicion of committing fraud Tuesday.

According to Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr., the men were headed east on Interstate 70 in a rented 2015 Chevy Cruze with South Dakota plates near mile marker 30 near Highland when a trooper pulled them over for following too closely and failing to signal.

The driver’s license was suspended and the rental car was past-due, Dye said.

During the roadside interview, Dye said the trooper, who is specially trained in kinesics —the interpretation of body language and gestures— suspected the men may have been up to no good.

The trooper summoned a K9 unit from the Troy Police Department. Upon arriving, the dog alerted to something in the car.

A subsequent search revealed the suspects had more than 100 stolen gift and debit cards, some of which had the suspects’ name on them but with magnetic strips that did not match the names. A laptop and other equipment typically used to alter cards also were found.

Both the driver, a 24-year-old man from South Richmond, N.Y., and the passenger, a 23-year-old man from Brooklyn, N.Y., were arrested and transported to the Madison County Jail, where they await charges.

“This was phenomenal police work by the trooper. It was a good thing the trooper observed the traffic violation, and through his expertise he got the suspects off the street,” Dye said. “Based on what was found in the car, this is their job. This is what these people do for a living.”

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 9:31 AM with the headline "Police: New Yorkers with stolen gift cards arrested near Highland."