Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona apparent victim of credit card fraud

Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio in August, 2012 / Getty Images

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's reputation for being hard on criminals is well known, but, in at least a small way, the tables have turned.

Sheriff's officials said Monday Arpaio had his credit card information stolen to the tune of $291.

Arpaio said someone used his Discover card last week to buy groceries in Chicago at a store called Jewel. He said he's hasn't been to Chicago in many years.

"I'm sure I didn't make the purchase so it could've been done by, what do you call it, skimmers making copies, or through the Internet, many different ways," Arpaio told CBS affiliate KPHO in Phoenix. "I don't think I'm the only victim around, there's many, many more I presume."

Small time credit card theft is a growing problem across the country, and has grown at a rate of 31 percent in the last three years, reports CBS affiliate KMVT in Idaho.

Arpaio told KPHO he canceled his card, and if he finds out the people responsible were struggling, he may not press charges.

[SaveAllisonMills]

FIGHT CORRUPTION (USA)
http://www.Pinterest.com/FightCorruption

[KansasCity-2012]

Tough sheriff's images get torn down just like anyone else's. The media made him...now the media is breaking him.

[kaetheb]

Happened to me, too, at about the same time for a similar amount of money. Apparently the thieves used a lot of different accounts in the same period. The bank told me that whoever they are, the thieves are in the Orland Park/Tinley Park/Alsip area. I don't like Arpaio either, but I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and I DO know this happened. I had to cancel a Visa card because of it.

[Petal129]

How very appropriate that such a thing happened to Arizona's second biggest bigot (Jan Brewer being the winner).

[gef2013]

Talk About walking up to a lion and slapping him on the nose and running.
Warning to the perp. Run don't stop, get out of the country, old joe is going to hunt you down like a dog.

[CoyoteMan2013]

The real fraud is CBS News the home of William Paley and Walter Cronkite that now censors Comments!

[george211]

I personally like this Sheriff if we had more like him thier would be less crime. This is one credit card that he or she shouldn't have messed with. Nail them to the wall Sheriff.

[zelskid]

Anyone can have their account hijacked

[proprogress]

I like Joe too. Best Sherrif in the country. If anyone doesn't like him, read the last statement posted in the interview. He said he would not necessary press charges if they were really in need. What he didn't say....is that he would be happy to provide a place for them to live.

[alphakroniq1]

oooh poor baby joey...EVER HEAR OF KARMA..U JUST MET HER

[alphakroniq1]

i applaud the thief, this so called sheriff is the biggest thief of them all. he gets paid making peoples lives hell. housing inmates in 112 degree weather in az. out of doors in tents...this is ok? but yet when the gitmo **** went down everyone rallied for the prisoners inhumane treatment.. grow up and wake up america PS JOE **** YOU YOU PARASITE

[IndyOutrider]

If you can't do the time....Don't do the crime. We need many more like Sheriff Joe!

[AflacQuack]

You applaud a thief? Then you're just as bad. Making people lives Hell? Ther criminals, you do crime you deserve hell. Don't do crime
and you don't have to worry about it. If you're a scumbag, then you DESERVE that. As for Joe, we need more of him and he won't lose a cent anyway, it's insured by the card. He'll get a new card, new number and balance restored.

[Harlan-R]

Real class act you have here at the DNCBS Hussein Media Outlet. Good picture of the Man who should be head of DHS/ICE or maybe even President. God Knows, Joe would be a better President than the jug-eared muslim.