Brazos County Sheriff’s Deputies and Bryan Police are investigating the fraudulent use of a Brazos County couple’s stolen debit cards.

“You think that being outside of town that you're going to be away from people prowling around,” said Diane Alvarado. But the Diane and her husband, Joseph Alvarado, now know the opposite to be true.

Joseph Alvarado returned home in June after serving in Afghanistan.
He used his severance pay from the army to open a new bank account with his wife.
Weeks went by and the couple never received their new debit cards.

“We called the bank and they said, "they're active",” said Diane Alvarado.

The couple soon realized that their bank account had been drained.

“It started with an ATM transaction of $100...then they took out $300 immediately after that...from there it looks like they did circles up and down Briarcrest until the card got rejected,” said Diane Alvarado.

Brazos County sheriffs deputies say there was a rash of similar crimes earlier this summer, and they arrested the suspect responsible.

“I'm angry,” said Joseph Alvarado. “You have someone who works hard for something, then someone else just comes and takes it. I really can't stand it.”

Investigators can't say if this theft is related.

The bank will replace the money stolen from the Alvarado's account. The couple just hopes others learn from their misfortune.