Police: Stolen credit cards used to buy gift cards
CRANBERRY TWP — A Pittsburgh woman is jailed on charges she and an unknown accomplice broke into a car last week and stole a purse containing credit cards.
A short time later, Cranberry Township police said the cards were used at stores to purchase gift cards totaling $1,516.56
Another attempted purchase of $151 was apparently denied.
Janeesa R. Fisher, 24, is facing nine charges — four of them felonies — in the case. She is in Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.
Investigators allege Fisher and a man who has not been identified broke out a window of a car April 3 at the Planet Fitness on Dutilh Road and snatched a purse from the vehicle.
It didn't take long for the suspected thieves to cash in on the crime, according to court documents.
In a 21-minute period, police said, the pair used two credit cards from the victim's purse at three different stores — the Giant Eagle in Cranberry Township and the Get Eagle and GetGo, both in Pine Township, Allegheny County.
Police said they bought various gift cards at the stores.
They apparently stopped when a final try at a Wexford area CVS pharmacy proved unsuccessful.
Video surveillance at two of the stores and other clues led police to Fisher, who is currently under supervision by the Allegheny County probation office.
District Judge Sue Haggerty on Tuesday arraigned her on charges of forgery and access device fraud and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes, all felonies.
She also was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of theft from a vehicle and receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit each of those crimes.
Additionally, she is charged with a summary count of criminal mischief.
At Fisher's video arraignment, police noted that she has a “significant substance abuse problem.”
Police did not immediately return a telephone call Wednesday and it was not known if any other arrests are imminent in the investigation.
