2 Charged In Southridge Mall Identity Theft Case

GREENDALE, WI — A 51-year-old Milwaukee man and a 28-year-old Milwaukee woman have been charged after authorities say they stole from a woman's purse in Southridge Mall and used her credit card to pay for items at two Milwaukee gas stations. Authorities say the crime happened before Southridge shut down due to the coronavirus.

Authorities say Michael Daniels, 51, and Sierra Linder, 28, have both been charged with identity theft-related charges in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, Greendale police took a report of an identity theft case that happened at Southridge Mall during the day on Feb. 25. Police said a woman was working at the Justice Store inside the mall that morning. The woman told police she placed her purse near the cash register and went to the back of the store to get things ready for the store opening that day.

According to police, when she went on her lunch break hours later, she was unable to locate her wallet. When she checked her banking app, she saw that someone had taken her wallet and used her credit card at two Speedway gas stations both located along a stretch of W. College Ave. in Milwaukee.

Police said an officer went to the first Speedway at 1300 W. College Ave. and reviewed surveillance of the transaction where the woman's card was used. The video showed a woman, later identified as Linder, buy two Visa gift cards for $200 each plus the $11.90 activation fees for a total of $411.90.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer went next to the Speedway at 110 W. College Ave. and reviewed surveillance footage there. According to police, Daniels used the card to buy one Visa gift card for $200 plus the $3.95 activation fee for a total payment of $203.95.

Police said an officer showed the victim a photo of the people who used her card, and said they weren't allowed to have it. According to police, both Linder and Daniels were identified when the officer showed surveillance photos to an Oak Creek police officer, who knew both people from recent arrests.