A 50-year-old woman suspected of lifting wallets from brides at several local weddings over five months was in custody Tuesday night in Las Vegas, authorities said.
Denise Gunderson, who also went by Denise Burns, was arrested Sunday in Las Vegas, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
“She was taken into custody on charges of stealing a wallet at a church,” said a statement. “Even though Gunderson lied about her identity, detectives soon discovered she was wanted on various charges in San Diego and Riverside counties.”
Between July and October 2015, brides in San Diego and Riverside Counties reported their wallets being stolen during their wedding ceremonies, authorities said.
Surveillance video captured Gunderson at weddings in Coronado, La Mesa and within the jurisdictions of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the agency said.
Videos also show Gunderson using the victims’ credit cards at several retail stores, racking up thousands of dollars in charges, said the department.
Facing multiple counts of burglary, identity theft and grand theft, Gunderson is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas and is awaiting extradition back to San Diego County to face charges, authorities said.
