Woman charged with stealing credit cards from businesses

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Kenner woman they believe stole credit cards from businesses in St. Charles and Jefferson parishes and then used the cards to make purchases.

The Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for 27-year-old Keshone Morgan in September based on surveillance footage taken from one of the crime scenes. Morgan was arrested last month. She has been charged with principle to simple burglary and theft of goods between $500-$1,500.

Chantell Fremen, of Tiger Town Gifts in Luling, and Linda Baxa, of It’s All About You Interiors in Boutte, said that two women came into their stores, distracted them and stole credit cards from their wallets in September.

Baxa identified Morgan as one of the women. Police are still searching for the other suspect.

Fremen said the women took four credit cards from her wallet and went on a $2,500 shopping spree, buying pre-paid credit cards from CVS, Walgreens and Target. Baxa also said the women took her credit card, but were unable to use it because it was expired.

Two business owners outside the parish also contacted the Herald-Guide and said that the same two women had stolen credit cards from them.

Dottee Martin, of Jim Owens Flooring and Cabinets in Metairie, said that the thefts occurred last July.

“The description of the two women is the same and one distracts as the other steals your wallet,” Martin said. “After the wallets are stolen, the thieves go to CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens Pharmacy to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards.”

Martin said she is aware of five other similar business robberies that took place in Jefferson Parish, including thefts at Hickory Chicks, Shoe Envy, Commercial Flooring Depot, Curves and Corte’s Medi-Spa, which are all in Harahan. Additionally, Martin believes the same two women stole credit cards from Mary’s Floor World in New Orleans.

The Harahan Police Department had also issued a warrant for Morgan’s arrest.

Erica Corte, owner of Corte’s Medi-Spa, said she was robbed by the two women on Sept. 14.

Corte said the women began asking her questions and one of them asked to see her microdermasion machine in action. After the women left, she realized that her wallet was stolen and more than $1,000 was charged to her credit cards.

Morgan remains in jail and her bond has been set at $30,000.