'High Man' Doesn't Remember Stealing a Debit Card for Munchies

Everyone knows the feeling of craving a late-night snack, but stealing really isn’t the best solution to that problem. A New York man is accused of doing just that: Michael Pisano, 28, was arrested Oct. 6 for allegedly stealing a debit card from a car parked in a driveway and using it to spend hundreds of dollars at a deli and on delivery food, the Staten Island Advance reports.

It was Pisano’s fifth arrest since Aug. 30. According to court papers cited in the news report, Pisano told police, “I’ve been so high I don’t remember what I’ve done.”

The debit card was used multiple times Sept. 28 and 29: three times at the Willowbrook Deli (9:22 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.), totaling $223.04 in charges, and at 1 a.m. to make a $79.50 order for delivery from Mike’s Unicorn Diner.

According to the Staten Island Advance, Pisano is scheduled to be arraigned on charges of fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth- and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny, though it is unclear if all those charges stem from the food-binge arrest or a Sept. 30 arrest, in which he is accused of stealing an iPhone from a parked car.

It’s also unclear if Pisano allegedly stole the debit card in anticipation of his late-night food cravings or in the midst of a munchies-induced crime spree. The former would exhibit remarkable planning skills, though Pisano’s comments to the police about his tendency to forget things while high suggest otherwise.

Credit card theft is much more common than debit card theft, but unauthorized transactions made with debit cards tend to be for higher dollar amounts than credit cards. Debit cards have PINs as an added security feature, but people can often bypass that step by opting to use debit cards as credit cards, opening up cardholders to substantial damage to their checking accounts. If you report the fraud within two business days, you shouldn’t be held liable for more than $50 for any of unauthorized purchases (but a delay can leave you on the hook for much more). It can still be quite stressful to have bills to pay while your account balance drops, until the issue is resolved.

One of the best ways to spot unauthorized transactions and fix the problem quickly is to monitor your bank account daily and set up transaction alerts with your financial institution. If you’ve lost your wallet and are worried that not just your debit card, but your identity may have been stolen, you should keep an eye on your credit for signs of new account fraud. You can see your credit scores for free every month on Credit.com. Any major, unexpected changes in your score could signal fraud and you should pull your credit reports to confirm.