A Romanian national is facing theft-related charges after allegedly using an ATM scam known as "cash trapping" to steal from victims in North Texas, according to Plano police.

The suspect, identified as Ionut Aurel Iova, is accused of installing devices that blocked cash from dispensing during withdrawals.

Authorities say he returned later to retrieve the trapped money, leaving victims, including an elderly person, to assume the ATM had simply malfunctioned.

"Believing the ATM is malfunctioning, victims typically leave to report the issue or find a different ATM," Plano police said in a news release Tuesday. "The criminals then return to remove the blocking device and collect the trapped currency."

Surveillance captured alleged theft

Iova allegedly targeted machines in Plano, specific

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