Woman Held After Online Buying Spree
An Escondido woman was accused Friday of stealing credit and debit card slips from hotel trash cans and then using the numbers to buy merchandise over the Internet.
Mary Anne Meindl, 41, apparently bought $10,000 worth of computer equipment, clothing, food, flowers, books and toys for her three children from October to January.
FBI agents arrested her Friday, after investigating complaints from people whose accounts were fraudulently used.
“The message is, people should be careful with their receipts and carbon copies,” FBI spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said.
Meindl apparently scouted trash cans in hotel lobbies throughout the San Diego area. She wasn’t employed by any of the hotels, Caldwell said.
Meindl was arraigned Friday and bond was set at $45,000. Her preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 8.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
