Debit Card Allegedly Stolen by Restaurant Employee, Police Say

Limerick Township police arrested a Birdsboro woman last week after she allegedly pocketed a debit card while working at the KFC/Taco Bell restaurant in Royersford and then tried to use it later in the day.

Syreeta Latique Nixon, age 36, was arrested and charged with two counts of access device fraud, possessing an instrument of crime, attempted theft by deception, securing execution of documents by deception, and identity theft. 

Police say the victim contacted them after her debit card went missing on February 27. The victim told police she had purchased food at the KFC/Taco Bell on Township Line Road in Royersford at about 2 p.m. that day. 

While making her purchase, the victim told police, she had "a nice long conversation with an employee", and said they had talked about the victim being a cancer patient and about her daughter having a medical condition. 

The victim told police that she realized later that evening that her debit card was missing, and she believed it had not been returned after her purchase. She suspected that the conversation had been intended to distract her while her debit card was taken. The victim described the employee as a black female with a buzz-cut haircut.

When the victim checked with her bank, she was advised that someone had attempted to make a purchase of $313.46 at about 3:40 p.m. at the Giant grocery store also on Township Line Road. 

Police viewed security footage from the Giant that showed a black female crossing the parking lot from the KFC/Taco Bell, entering the Giant store and selecting several gift cards, then going to the self-checkout lane and attempting to purchase the gift cards. The security video shows that there appeared to be an issue with the transaction, and the female suspect left the Giant without making a purchase. The security footage then reportedly showed the female walking directly back to the KFC/Taco Bell.

The security footage was shown to a Taco Bell regional store manager, who identified the female as Nixon. 

Nixon was arrested and charged, and bail was set at $25,000. According to court records, Nixon has several prior arrests for multiple charges. 

Police say Nixon confessed to the theft in a written statement prior to her arrest.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2013 at 1 p.m. in Magisterial District Judge Walter Gadzicki's court. 

A Taco Bell manager who identified himself as George had no comment on the situation when Patch contacted the store.