FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities arrested a former waitress at a Fort Lauderdale restaurant Tuesday after they said she charged diners for far more than just their meals.
According to an arrest report, Elizabeth Alvarez Garcia, 38, of Dania Beach, was fired from her job at the Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant at the Galleria at Fort Lauderdale mall, located at 2568 E. Sunrise Blvd., after customers complained about the unauthorized charges. The report states she worked for the chain restaurant from April to July.
The report states that Alvarez Garcia, after ringing up customers for their meals, used a Square payment device linked to an LLC called “Mareli Investment Corporation,” in which Alvarez Garcia is the vice president and registered agent.
The money then went into a business account which showed an “extensive history of purchases made on food, gas, travel, entertainment and personal living expenses.”
Police said Alvarez Garcia stole at least $4,320 from at least three victims over a four-day period in June. In one instance, police said she made a $2,500 charge to a customer’s card “seconds after (he paid) for his meal.”
The customers, who were reimbursed by their credit card companies, identified Alvarez Garcia as their waitress on the night of the unauthorized charges.
She faces two counts each of third-degree grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and criminal use of personal identification. She was later released from jail.
Local 10 News went to Alvarez Garcia’s house on Friday. She had no comment regarding the charges.