Surveillance Video Fingers Woman in Credit Card Thefts: Prosecutors

Surveillance video showed a woman stealing credit cards from two cars and then using the cards at a Tinley Park tobacco shop, prosecutors said.

Leah Hammerschmidt, 19, of Tinley Park, was charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and residential burglary.

According to the charges, Hammerschmidt entered an attached garage around 1 a.m. March 24. There, she ransacked a man's car and took his credit cards.

Several hours later, around 3 p.m., a woman began receiving text messages from her bank regarding charges being made on her debit card. When she discovered that her wallet was missing from her purse, the woman contacted police, prosecutors said.

Police said they reviewed surveillance video from Dunkin Donuts which showed Hammerschmidt entering the woman’s car.

Prosecutors said that police were also notified of purchases being made on stolen credit cards at the tobacco store. Surveillance video from the tobacco store also indicated it was the same person from the Dunkin Donuts theft.

Hammerschmidt allegedly admitted to police using the stolen credit cards.

Hammerschmidt’s attorney said that she is a graduate of Tinley Park High School and lives with her mother. He said someone else obtained the credit cards from the garage.

Bail was set at $5,000 for the motor vehicle burglary charge and $10,000 on the residential burglary offense.

Hammerschmidt is to be on electronic home monitoring should she bond out. Her next court hearing is April 18 in Bridgeview.