St. Joseph County residents should be extra careful to monitor their banking information as the St. Joseph County Police Department is investigating almost 40 incidents of stolen bank card numbers.

Many of the card numbers stolen belong to Teachers Credit Union accounts, but other banks have also been targeted, according to Assistant Chief Bill Thompson with the SJCPD.

Suspects somehow obtain account numbers, and then re-create the cards, including at least some of the magnetic stripe information, Thompson said. The fraudulent cards have often been used to buy gift cards from home improvement stores.

Police are advising anyone with a bank or credit card to safeguard their credit account information, and report any possible instance of fraud to contact the Investigative Division of the St. Joseph County Police Department at 574-235-9569.