Travis R. Green
SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man is facing auto theft, fraud and theft charges along with a sentence enhancement for theft and a charge of being a habitual offender. All charges are level 6 felonies.
Travis R. Green, 30, 301 N. Lake Street, Syracuse, was arrested Thursday afternoon, Dec. 31, after charges were filed in Kosciusko Superior Court 1.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was called Dec. 6 to investigate a theft reported by Erin Rhodes. Rhodes reported, between Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, someone entered her vehicle, sole her identification, debit card and Social Security Card. When she notified the bank, several charges had already been made to her account.
Indiana State Police responded to an auto theft on Dec. 6, at which time John Beer reported someone stole his red 2001 Chevrolet Trailblazer from his driveway. Several days later the vehicle was found parked in a driveway at another residence. The homeowner stated the vehicle was blocking his garage.
Inside the vehicle police found a convenience store receipt for $16.97 for cigarettes and a beverage, dated Dec. 6. The receipt indicated Rhodes’ stolen debit card had been used.
A surveillance video from the convenience store displayed the stolen vehicle drive up to the gas pump and the receipt transaction. Green was identified as the individual in the video.
When police checked Rhodes’ bank records charges totaling $726.65 were found during the time Rhodes reported her debit card as stolen. Additional surveillance videos were viewed and Green was identified as using the card. On one surveillance video, Green was a passenger in a vehicle and was seen using Rhodes’ debit card to purchase gas. The driver of that vehicle admitted to police Green was with him and used a credit card to pay for the gasoline.
The theft charge was enhanced from a class A misdemeanor to a level 6 felony, after it was learned on Sept. 30, 2014, Green had been convicted of an offense of conversion. The charge of being a habitual offender is based on three other convictions: burglary on March 5, 2009; theft on March 9, 2005; and theft on July 5, 2005.
He is being held on $20,000 surety and $250 cash bonds.