MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A report of a suspected credit card skimmer at a Murfreesboro gas station led to a police response, a brief neighborhood search, and a pursuit that ended across town near Veterans Parkway and Highway 96. It all unfolded on Tuesday morning between 9 AM and 11 AM.
The incident reportedly began at the Raceway gas station on Highway 231 South, directly across the highway from Murfreesboro Medical Clinic. The gas station is in front of the newly built Tiger Hill townhome community, which plays an important role in this story.
According to information from the scene, someone at the gas station allegedly saw an individual place what appeared to be a card-skimming device on a gas pump terminal. Those devices are often designed to capture credit or debit card information and, in some cases, PIN numbers from unsuspecting customers using the pump. A manager at the gas station confirmed the device was an illegal skimmer and quickly called police.
After the suspicious activity was reported, the individual allegedly left the gas station in a black SUV and drove into the nearby Tiger Hill subdivision, located directly behind the business. The vehicle reportedly stopped in front of one of the townhomes, despite the driver having no known connection to the residents at that address.
That decision apparently did not help the SUV go unnoticed. Tiger Hill has limited parking in front of the homes, and a large black SUV parked along the roadway stood out quickly in the newly developed neighborhood. In fact, one of the HOA rules is to not park on the sidewalk, or infront of homes. Had the suspect of known the person he was supposedly visiting, he would have known that guest parking sat a mere 25-feet away.
A Murfreesboro Police officer in the area located the SUV and pulled in behind it to question the driver about the incident reported at the gas station. Rather than remain at the scene, the driver allegedly fled the subdivision.
The SUV then left Tiger Hill and headed toward Highway 231 South, also known as South Church Street, before making its way onto Interstate 24. Authorities later tracked the vehicle toward the west side of Murfreesboro, near the area of Highway 96 and Veterans Parkway.
The pursuit drew a large law enforcement response, including Murfreesboro Police officers and Tennessee State Troopers. Multiple units searched the area as authorities worked to locate the SUV and stop the driver.
The suspect was ultimately caught after the chase ended near Veterans Parkway and Highway 96.
The case serves as another reminder for drivers to closely inspect gas pump terminals before inserting a card. Customers should look for loose card readers, broken security seals, unusual attachments, or anything that appears different from nearby pumps. When possible, paying inside the store or using a credit card instead of a debit card can offer added protection.
Anyone who believes their card may have been compromised should contact their bank immediately, monitor transactions, and consider requesting a replacement card.
Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name or the full list of possible charges connected to the reported skimmer and pursuit. Additional details are expected as the investigation continues.
