Thief steals wallet from hotel room as father, son slept inside, deputies say

Detectives believe thief was staying with woman on same floor as victims

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. ā€“ Broward Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for two women, who they said were involved in a burglary last week at a hotel in Deerfield Beach.

The incident was reported Aug. 2 at the Embassy Suites at 950 S. Ocean Drive.

Deputies said a man and his son were taking a late-afternoon nap while his wife and daughter were out.

Authorities said the family left the door to their hotel room unlocked and a woman entered while the father and son were sleeping.

The father woke up at about 5:45 p.m. and received a call that his debit card had been fraudulently used. His credit cards had also been compromised, authorities said.

Deputies said a few minutes after the victim discovered that his wallet had been stolen, the woman was captured by the hotel's security video leaving the hotel and getting into a yellow cab.

Authorities said the same woman, who was wearing sunglasses, tried to purchase more than $800 worth of gift cards at a Publix at 150 S. Federal Highway.

But the cashier asked the woman for an ID and the woman claimed that she was using her husband's card, deputies said.

Authorities said the woman left the store after the cashier attempted to call over the store's manager.

Surveillance video shows the woman returning to the hotel at about 6:15 p.m.

Detectives linked the thief to another woman who had checked into the hotel a few days prior and was staying in a room on the same floor as the victims.Ā 

Detectives searched the woman's room and found the victim's wallet, as well as property from an Oakland Park burglary and a Pompano Beach burglary, authorities said.

Both burglaries were reported in July.

Authorities said the woman who checked into the hotel drove a black Mustang that was possibly a rental car.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Detective Scott WhittomĀ at 954-480-4286 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. A reward of up to $3,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest.Ā 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.