A Miami woman surrendered to authorities Tuesday after investigators accused her and two others of repeatedly stealing packages from a secure apartment complex near Dadeland and using a victim’s stolen credit card to make fraudulent purchases, according to an arrest affidavit.
Ariadnis Mejias, 37, surrendered on Tuesday and is charged with burglary of an occupied structure, fraudulent use of a credit card worth more than $100, and petit theft, according to an arrest document.
The investigation began after a resident of Motion at Dadeland, at 8400 S. Dixie Highway claimed that a replacement bank card delivered to the building’s password-protected package room was stolen on March 31, investigators said.
The victim was later notified of fraudulent purchases made using the card.
According to authorities, surveillance footage showed Mejias and another lady entering the safe package room by following a resident into the facility.
Mejias was reportedly spotted selecting many items and tucking them beneath her shirt and waistline before exiting the room.
Investigators later learned Mejias was reportedly engaged in two previous parcel thefts at the same apartment complex earlier that month.
Mejias and co-defendant Luis Sanchez-Blen allegedly used a Luxor One carrier code to unlock and gain access to the package room on March 18.
Surveillance footage purportedly captured the couple collecting many parcels and packing them into a green bag that they also stole from the room.
Authorities say seven to eight packages were stolen during the burglary.
Police claimed Mejias went to the package room alone on March 22 and was caught on surveillance camera stealing numerous more parcels.
Detectives claimed security footage taken from Macy’s on May 12 showed Mejias and another lady using the victim’s stolen credit card to buy $444.05 in items.
Authorities stated the building manager confirmed that none of the people seen in the CCTV film were inhabitants of the apartment complex.
According to the affidavit, on May 4, Mejias’ attorney called detectives and informed them that she would surrender while exercising her right to counsel.
Mejias later handed herself in at the Kendall District Station and was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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