Bronx Man Arrested in New Canaan ATM Skimming Scheme

New Canaan police arrested a 30-year-old Bronx, NY man by warrant Saturday night after thwarting what they're calling his plan to steal money from ATM users at a local bank.

According to Sgt. Carol Ogrinc, the department’s public information officer, Adrian Abagiu was arrested at 9:45 p.m. and charged with two counts of second-degree criminal attempt at larceny, two counts of third-degree criminal attempt at identity, two counts of criminal possession of an access device to obtain personal identifying information, second-degree forgery and interfering with an officer.

The arrest was the culmination about 10 days’ work among New Canaan police, Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force and Connecticut State Police, Ogrinc said.

Investigators from Chase Bank on Main Street on May 10 told New Canaan police they had video showing that Abagiu was trying to install a so-called “skimming” device at an ATM. The device captures bank account and ATM card information from ATM users. On May 18—last Friday—the Chase investigators say they saw Abagiu trying to install or “test fit” a skimming device for the same ATM.

The following day, Abagiu was put under surveillance, and at about 9:30 p.m. was seen entering a vestibule at the bank. He was taken into custody after leaving the bank and officials say they found an ATM skimming device in his jacket pocket.

Abagiu was held on $250,000 and scheduled to appear May 21 in state Superior Court in Norwalk.