Flower Delivery Turns Into Shopping Spree With Stolen Credit Card

KENSINGTON, MD — A flower delivery to a Kensington home financed a shopping spree at Macy's and Lord and Taylor for a Gaithersburg man who allegedly helped himself to the flower recipient's credit cards, authorities say.

Montgomery County Police arrested Anthony Dwight Reeves, 48, of the 500 block of Odendhal Avenue in Gaithersburg on May 23. He is charged with burglary and other offenses tied to a March theft, and detectives suspect he may have committed similar crimes they don't know about.

According to police, Reeves entered a home on March 26 in the 3300 block of University Boulevard West in Kensington to deliver flowers. He reportedly went inside the house when nobody responded to his knock on the door. Once inside the home, Reeves allegedly stole a credit card along with other property belonging to the homeowner.

With the credit card in hand, Reeves' next stop was the Macy’s store at Westfield Wheaton Mall in Wheaton and the Lord and Taylor store in Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg. Police say he used the victim’s credit card to buy apparel and other items totaling more than $1,000.

Detectives believe Reeves may be responsible for committing additional burglaries throughout Montgomery County at homes where he delivered flowers.

Surveillance video from a camera near the victim’s home and store cameras where the victim’s credit card was used showed Reeves entering the house and then going shopping, police said.

Reeves is charged with first-degree burglary, theft less than $1,000, and multiple credit card offenses.

Authorities arrested Reeves Monday at an address on Talbot Avenue in Silver Spring.

That same day, detectives executed a search warrant at Reeves’ Gaithersburg residence and recovered property believed to be stolen from additional residential burglaries.

Reeves was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

»Photo of burglary suspect Anthony Reeves, courtesy of Montgomery County Police