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Shopping Suspect Spends $5,000 in Hot Checks

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KINGSVILLE -- Police are searching for a man who's gone on a hot check writing spree across the coastal bend. The checkbook was stolen from a car in Corpus Christi but the majority of those hot checks were passed in Kingsville.

Surveillance video shows the man, who Kingsville police believe burglarized a car in Corpus Christi last month, then went on a shopping spree on someone else's dime.

"It's a male at a local store, making a purchase," Sgt. Bradley Lile said.

Police described the suspect as a tall hispanic man in his late twenties with short dark hair. The video shows the man leaving a Kingsville store with one of his many new purchases.

"This is one of three purchases he made that day in Kingsville," Sgt. Lile said.

Police said, the suspect was seen coming out of McCoys with a chain saw he purchased, with a check for nearly 400 dollars. He also bought some yard tools but that was just pennies. Police said, the suspect wrote several more forged checks at other businesses that same day.

"I've been told over five thousand dollars," Sgt. Lile said.

5,000 in hot checks is just the estimate at this point. Police said, the suspect also hit the Kingsville Walmart and the Tractor Supply Company for more power tools, paying for the items with more hot checks.

"He purchases a chainsaw, rakes and some other items," Sgt. Lile said.

Police said, the suspect didn't stop there, he left a paper trail of hot checks in smaller surrounding cities.

"Several checks have been written in Kingsville, Alice and Aransas Pass," Sgt. Lile said.

Investigators said, they are also are working with the vehicle owner hoping to identify the suspect. Kingsville police said, all the hot check purchases happened on October 25th. No other checks stolen from the Corpus Christi man have turned up since then.