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SALT LAKE CITY — An employee at a Duchesne County restaurant was arrested last week after police said he used his cellphone to take pictures of customers' credit cards.
A sheriff's deputy contacted Andrew Shane Encoe, 32, at his home in Duchesne County on Friday after he allegedly used someone else's financial card for three separate purchases, according to a probable cause statement from the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office.
Encoe told the deputy he had memorized the card number, called various companies and "told them a story" to convince them to charge it, the statement indicates.
As the deputy searched Encoe's home, he also checked the man's cellphone, the statement reads, finding photos of several financial cards. Sheriff's deputies believe Encoe took the photos while working as a cashier and cook at Sandstone Pizza & Grill in the small community of Hanna, according to the sheriff's office.
Additionally, the deputy located drugs, paraphernalia, and bolt cutters, wrenches and a battery jump box suspected to be used for vehicle burglaries, according to the probable cause statement. After he was booked into jail, Encoe went into a bathroom and removed more drugs and paraphernalia from his body, the report states.
Encoe has not been charged in connection with the photographed credit card information, but he's currently facing one third-degree felony and two misdemeanor charges alleging unlawful possession or use a financial transaction card.
Encoe told the deputy he had memorized the card number, called various companies and "told them a story" to convince them to charge it. - Probable cause statement
State court records reveal Encoe's criminal history in Utah dates back to 2006 and includes convictions for unlawful possession of a financial card, theft, drug possession and retail theft.
Anyone who believes Encoe had access to their financial card while he was employed at Sandstone Pizza & Grill is asked to review their bank information and contact the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office at 435-738-2015 if they discover abnormalities. Email: mromero@deseretnews.com Twitter: McKenzieRomero
