3 valley Michaels stores hit by PIN pad tampering

Three Michaels stores in Las Vegas were among the arts and crafts retailer’s locations hit by a nationwide security breach involving PIN pads.

According to a statement released by Michaels, the chain identified fewer than 90 PIN pads that showed signs of tampering. The discovery led Michaels to remove about 7,200 PIN pads similar to those tampered with in stores.

Michaels identified the three Las Vegas stores affected:

• 9881 S. Eastern Ave.

• 1251 S. Decatur Blvd.

• 7195 Arroyo Crossing Parkway

Store officials said the exposed PIN pad transactions occurred from Feb. 8 through May 6, when the tampered devices were disabled.

Greg Barnes, senior vice president of marketing for Nevada Federal Credit Union, said the criminals began using Las Vegas customers’ debit information over Memorial Day weekend.

Nevada Federal Credit Union identified about 1,200 customers whose debit information may have been compromised by shopping at the three affected Las Vegas stores. Of those people, about 99 so far had money taken from their accounts over the weekend, Barnes said.