An attendant at a Middle Island gas station was arrested Monday and charged with illegally using an in-station credit card over 300 times, racking up more than $26,000 in fraudulent charges, Suffolk County police said.
Mehmet Yaylacicegi, 55, of 70 Mount Vernon Ave., Patchogue, worked as an attendant at the BP Gas station located at 975 Middle Country Road in Middle Island. According to detectives, Yaylacicegi used an in-station credit card, which belonged to Regency Forest Pet Memorial Park more than 330 times during a two-year period. Cops said the theft surpassed $26,000 in purchases, all of which were allegedly made at the station.
The Regency Forest Pet Memorial Park, also located in Middle Island, became aware of the theft during “an internal audit,” police said. Yaylacicegi was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with third-degree grand larceny and five counts of third-degree identity theft.
Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, a man who identified himself as the owner of the BP Gas station said Yaylacicegi worked as an attendant for about five years. Asked how many in-station credit cards are typically used at the station, the man said “he only used one credit card.” He declined to say if the gas station had captured Yaylacicegi on surveillance video illegally using the card, before abruptly hanging up.
Court records show Yaylacicegi was released without bail after his arraignment Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip. He is due back in court on April 4. He could not be reached for comment.
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