Charges: Man stole wallets from construction sites across metro, charged over $15K to credit cards

A Woodbury man is facing over a dozen counts of credit card fraud after he allegedly targeted vehicles at construction sites across the Twin Cities metro, stole wallets and charged more than $15,000 to the victims.

Jamel Andre Gaither, 33, is charged with 19 counts of credit card fraud in Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

The charges stem from thefts as far back as September 2021 and as recently as Sept. 12, 2022.

According to criminal complaints, Gaither allegedly broke into vehicles parked at or near construction sites and stole wallets. He then used credit cards from the wallets to buy dozens of gift cards at various stores.

Court documents detail similar reports in Shoreview, Arden Hills, Roseville, Woodbury, St. Paul, West St. Paul, North St. Paul, Richfield, Medina, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Shakopee, Robbinsdale, Blaine, Burnsville, White Bear Lake and Minnetonka over the past 13 months.

Police used surveillance videos from the stores where the gift cards were bought to identify Gaither as the suspect.

In total, the documents state Gaither attempted or completed at least $15,610 in fraudulent charges in the incidents.

He has multiple upcoming court appearances due to the number of counties he’s charged in. However, as of Wednesday, he wasn’t in custody, per jail records.