State Police at Liberty report the arrest of two individuals after an investigation into ATM card skimming. During the first week of November 2015, it was reported to State Police that several customers of the National Bank of Delaware County had their bank accounts compromised. The bank estimated that the total loss from these accounts totaled more than $20,000.

An investigation determined that the accounts were compromised at the Liberty branch of NBDC during the weekend of October 31, 2015. Video surveillance showed a male suspect placing the device on an ATM machine, and then retrieving it later in the day. During the month of November 2015, the same suspect placed a skimming device on an ATM at the Monticello branch of NBDC.

On the morning of Friday December 11, 2015, State Police were contacted by bank management and advised that they had located a skimming device on the outside ATM at the Liberty branch. The device was left in place and a team of State Police members began surveillance of the bank. At 7:30pm, a male suspect identified as Dinu Gelu, age 31 of Flushing, NY was observed removing the device.

He was taken into custody without incident, as was a female accomplice identified as Ioana Colompar, age 33 of Glendale, NY. An investigation determined that Gelu and Colompar were involved in the placing of skimming devices in October and November at the Liberty and Monticello branches. As a result of the investigation and arrests, a skimming device, along with a remote camera were recovered as evidence.

Gelu was charged with twenty-two counts of Grand Larceny 4th Degree, four counts of Scheme to Defraud 1st Degree, felonies, along with Possession of a Skimming Device 2nd Degree, a misdemeanor. Colompar was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny 4th Degree and two counts of Scheme to Defraud 2nd Degree. Gelu and Colompar were arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail with bail set at $200,000 for Colompar and no bail offered to Gelu. Additional charges are expected.

State Police remind people to be aware of their surroundings when using an ATM. If they suspect that an ATM has been tampered with, avoid using it and notify bank management and police immediately.