Florida Waitress Busted Stealing Thousands From Customers Through Their Credit Cards: Police

A waitress working at a high-end restaurant in Florida was arrested for allegedly making thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized charges using customers' credit cards, according to authorities.

Alvarez Garcia worked at the Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant at the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale from April to July 2023 and during that time, she managed to steal thousands from unsuspecting customers.

The 38-year-old used a Square payment device linked to an LLC called "Mareli Investment Corporation" to make the bogus charges, which would then go into a business account owned by Garcia.

According to an arrest report per Local 10 News, the account showed an "extensive history of purchases made on food, gas, travel, entertainment and personal living expenses."

Over four days in June, Garcia stole at least $4,320 from three different customers. Once these erroneous charges were discovered, the customers identified Garcia as the waitress who had served them.

The customers were reimbursed, and Garcia was fired, but now she could be facing jail time for her scheme. She was arrested and faces two counts each of third-degree grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and criminal use of personal identification.

Garcia was released from jail following her arrest.