Sarasota Woman Faces Multiple Burglary, Fraud Charges

A 24-year-old Sarasota woman is facing multiple vehicle burglary and credit card charges for a rash of incidents in August and September.

Kristen Mandia, of 4151 Palau Drive, faces 13 charges for incidents in the past six weeks that include grand theft, burglary, larceny and fraud, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Mandia was also listed at an absconded address at 2721 6th Ave. West in Bradenton, according to the sheriff's office, which she used for her parole from a previous burglary charge in Sarasota County, according to the affidavit. 

Mandia concentrated her activity in Lake Sarasota neighborhoods near Bee Ridge Road and Interstate 75, according to the sheriff's office.

In all, investigators say Mandia racked up $1,000 in fraudulent charges in addition to stealing a laptop worth $600, according to the probable cause affidavit.

In several of these cases, cars were left unlocked with valuables inside, and the sheriff's office reminds people to take their electronics out of their car and lock their doors. Most of the vehicle burglaries happened around 5 a.m., according to the affidavits.

On Aug. 22, a car burglary was reported in the 2200 block of West Leewynn Drive where a wallet and credit cards were taken, and the victim's Visa and Discover cards were later used at the Walgreens at 5800 Bee Ridge Road, purchasing a carton of cigarettes for $54, according to the affidavit, but her driver's license information was captured at the store because the store swipes driver's licenses through its system to verify ages. Investigators were able to line up the transaction with surveillance footage to identify Mandia, according to the sheriff's office.

On Sept. 6 in the early morning hours, a victim's ID, debit card, and $40 in cash were taken from the victim's 1997 unlocked Honda in the 4800 block of Grove Pointe Blvd., according to the sheriff's office.

Investigators found that $110 was fraudulently charged to the card at the same Walgreens and also identified Mandia in the security footage, according to the affidavit.

The following morning, a Toshiba laptop, credit card and State College of Florida ID card were taken from an unlocked 2001 Mazda in the 5600 block of Boulder Blvd., according to the affidavit.

The stolen credit card had $256 charged to it at CVS, the Bee Ridge Radiant Marathon gas station, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and three times at the Cattleman Road Walmart, where Mandia was identified in security footage, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 10, Mandia gained entry into an unlocked 2012 Dodge in the 3900 block of Allan Place where the victim's wallet containing two credit cards were taken, according to the affidavit.

This time, $203 of fraudulent charges were applied to the cards at the Bee Ridge Marathon, a Cattleman McDonald's and three times at the Cattleman Walmart, one of which being a $142, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 22, another car burglary was reported for a Ford Mustang in the another Lake Sarasota subdivision, according to the affidavit.

Mandia is currently being held without bond on three charges and $37,120 on the remaining charges, according to the sheriff's office. Mandia initially refused to cooperate with being interviewed at the jail by detectives, according to the affidavits. 

The investigation into her recent activity is continuing.