FRESNO, Calif. (BRAIN) — California investigators have obtained a felony warrant for the arrest of Marlon Markham, who is suspected of using stolen credit cards and fake identities to steal from small businesses including bike shops. They are asking bike shops for help finding him if he comes into their store. They say retailers should call 911 if they see him in their stores.
"If he enters your bike shop, do not confront him," a notice from the Visalia police department said. "Instead, call the police and stall him until they arrive. Give the police his name (Marlon Ray Markham, DOB 1/16/1987) and let them know he is an extraditable wanted felon in Fresno County. His information will be in the NCIC, and more felony warrants are pending in counties throughout the state."
Vanessa McCracken, the owner of Sunnyside Bicycles in Fresno, told BRAIN that someone meeting Markham's description used a fake card to steal a $4,100 bike from the store last October.
"(He) has been SUPER active since then," McCracken said. "He has gotten shops from Southern California all the way up to the border near Oregon."
Visalia Police Det. Brian Young, who is investigating the incidents, said Markham is known to frequent the Bay Area and Central Valley. He's used a number of different aliases in attempting to purchase bikes with fraudulent credit cards, Young told BRAIN earlier this year.
Young said Markham appears to have some knowledge of bicycles, always targeting high-dollar models. The detective is urging any business believed to have had contact with Markham to contact him at 559-713-4574. Retailers can also contact their local law enforcement agency and reference Case #193996 with the Visalia Police Department.
