Cedar Rapids woman faces 22 charges, accused of using stolen credit cards, checks

A Cedar Rapids woman faces at least 22 criminal charges after she allegedly used stolen credit cards and checks at several area stores.

Heather L. Bennett, 34, of 2719 O Ave. NW, has been charged with 20 counts of unauthorized use of a credit card and two counts of forgery. She is accused of using credit cards or checks belonging to six victims to buy various items, including gift cards, TVs and gas, in the last two months, police said.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said all six victims had their cars broken into at various times and locations. One of them, a 26-year-old woman, had her purse stolen from her car while it was in a parking lot on Nov. 16. Bennett allegedly forged two checks stolen from the woman for amounts totaling $675, according to criminal complaints.

Spencer L. Horak, 32, of Central City, also has been charged with one count of forgery in the case. According to court documents, he tried to cash one of the stolen checks at Hills Bank and Trust, 3610 Williams Blvd. SW. Bennett had forged the check in the amount of $500, police said.

Police said Bennett used the stolen credit cards at several stores and gas stations, including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Casey's General Store and Guppy's on the Go. On Thanksgiving Day, she allegedly used a stolen credit card 11 different times at the three Wal-Mart stores in Cedar Rapids and Marion.

In 2003, Bennett was convicted of seven counts of forgery and one count of unauthorized use of a credit card, according to online court records.