An Atlanta woman has been arrested for helping herself to credit cards and other valuables purloined from church-goers vehicles in a series of thefts here.
Latoya Ellis, 31, would strike in the middle of church services, and she would use credit cards immediately afterwards, often to buy shoes, investigators said. She has been linked to eight entering auto cases that occurred at New Hope Baptists Church (north campus) and Flat Creek Baptist Church dating back to April 17, and also on May 1 and May 8.
Investigators were able to obtain surveillance video from the stores where the stolen credit cards were used. Ellis was identified after a Lithonia residents saw a story on the thefts on WSB-TV, providing the crucial link to solving the case.
Ellis was subsequently arrested near her home in southwest Atlanta, officials said.
The case remains under investigation and additional arrests are expected, sheriff’s officials said.
