GASTON COUNTY, N.C.,None — A hotel employee was arrested Sunday for rifling through a guest’s purse and stealing a gift card, according to Gastonia Police.
Staci Lynn Mooney, 29, of 210 Sams Trail, Dallas, is charged with misdemeanor larceny.
A South Carolina woman was sleeping in her room at Holiday Inn on Broadcast Street shortly before noon when she heard a knock at the door. She ignored the knock, and Mooney walked in, gathered dirty towels and left, according to an incident report.
Mooney reentered the room and went to the area near a trash can. The woman told police that she heard some rifling around, looked over and saw the Mooney going through her purse.
The hotel guest asked Mooney what she was doing and Mooney replied that she was grabbing the towels and she left the room, according to police reports.
The woman looked in her purse, noticed a Walmart gift card was gone and reported the incident to the front desk. She also told Gastonia Police that she wanted to press charges.
Holiday Inn personnel referred The Gazette to the corporate office. Calls to the corporate office were not returned.
Mooney is on probation. She was convicted of drug possession, credit card fraud and credit card theft in December.
She was booked at Gaston County Jail and released on an unsecured bond.