HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. - Convenience stores, like Cumberland Farms in Hoosick Falls, deal with credit card purchases every hour of every day.
According to police, a husband and wife, captured in a store surveillance photo, used that knowledge to scam at least six stores in the region out of thousands of dollars.
"They had knowledge of the system and they were able to utilize it to their advantage," said Hoosick Falls Police Chief Bob Ashe.
Police said the couple allegedly attempts to purchase merchandise with credit cards that they know won't work, which is what took place at the Cumberland Farms in May.
"The credit card wasn't working and the individuals seemed to have a lot of knowledge about the computer system at Cumberland Farms and were able to talk the clerk through and it worked, he told him, 'push this button, push that button,' and it worked," said Ashe.
Only none of the merchandise was actually charged to the card, something the store didn't realize until later.
News10 ran a story on the scam, airing the surveillance picture. Police received a call from a woman in East Greenbush within minutes.
"The same night it was on the news was the same night they were down in East Greenbush at a Stewarts down there where this lady was behind them and was witnessing what was going on. It was rejected from that particular store. She kind of got suspicious of what was going on so she went outside and wrote the plate number down," said Ashe.
It led to the arrests of 21-year-old Jonathon Hinote and his wife, 20-year-old Christian Hinote, of North Adams, Massachusetts. They have both been charged with grand larceny.
"It was pretty amazing between the press and this lady down there who just so happened to be watching channel 10 and was able to put things together and notify us about it," said Ashe.
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