Shantay Monique Shanks, 47, of Gary, has been charged in Lake County after police allege she stole two truck drivers’ wallets while they slept at the Petro Truck Stop in the 3000 block of Grant Street and then used stolen company credit cards to make purchases at gas stations in Gary and Lake Station.  

According to court documents, the investigation began after BJ Forest Trucking reported that two of its over-the-road drivers discovered their wallets missing after parking overnight at the Petro Truck Stop. The drivers told police they went to sleep around 2 a.m. and woke around 5 a.m. to find their wallets gone. One wallet contained a Michigan commercial driver’s license, four credit cards and $40 in cash, while the other contained a Michigan commercial driver’s license, three credit cards and a fuel card. Shortly afterward, the company received fraud alerts showing the stolen credit cards had been used.  

Police reviewed surveillance footage from a Citgo on Melton Road in Gary and a Rich Oil/Speedway on Central Avenue in Lake Station. Investigators allege Shanks redeemed scratch-off lottery tickets before using one of the stolen credit cards to purchase four packs of Newport cigarettes, with the transaction totaling $43.53. Court documents state she also received cash from winning scratch-off tickets before leaving the store.  

According to court documents, surveillance footage later showed the same woman at the Lake Station gas station purchasing four drinks and twenty $5 scratch-off lottery tickets. Police allege she used two different stolen credit cards to complete purchases totaling $120.36, including $75.45 charged to one card and $44.91 charged to another.  

Investigators used surveillance images, license plate reader technology and additional video evidence to identify the white GMC Yukon allegedly used during the transactions. Police later identified Shanks by comparing surveillance images with law enforcement and Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles photographs. Court documents also allege Shanks has a prior Porter County theft conviction, resulting in the current charge being filed as a Level 6 felony.  

Lodged in the Lake County Jail.

Charges filed July 1, 2026:

Theft (prior theft or conversion conviction) — Level 6 Felony