A little bit of his own detective work and some luck helped a sharp-eyed victim of credit card fraud catch the man police say charged up a giant TV and several appliances on his stolen credit card.
As Joel Guimares, 25, drove by the Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 9 in Framingham yesterday on the way to work, he recognized the man he watched on a Target store security video recording using Joel's credit card to buy a flat-screen TV, convection oven, coffeemaker and other items.
“I was following the guy, and I was calling the police at the same time,” said Guimares, who lives in Framingham. “He ended up driving by the police headquarters, and they got him there.”
The suspect, Donald Larsen, 34, a manager at a Whole Foods Market, was charged with larceny of property worth more than $250 and credit card misuse.
Guimares got a call Monday from his credit card company about the possible misuse of his credit card. He had lost his wallet at the same Dunkin’ Donuts where he spotted the suspect.
The credit card company told him someone had spent about $2,000 at the Target on Route 30. Guimares said he went there and asked to see the security video recording.
He watched, but did not recognize the man buying the television.
But yesterday, while driving to his job at the Framingham Saab dealership, he recognized the face he saw.
Larsen drove away, Guimares followed and called the police with the license plate number, and Larsen was arrested.
