Homeless man arrested after allegedly using stolen credit card to buy two meals at popular Coral Springs restaurant
Coral Springs, Florida – A small restaurant tab turned into a criminal case after police say a 39-year-old homeless man used a stolen credit card to pay for two meals at a popular Coral Springs eatery, triggering an investigation that later led to his arrest.
According to the Coral Springs Police Department, the incident centered around Tap 42 on North University Drive, where employees noticed suspicious activity involving a customer and a woman’s American Express card that had been reported stolen.
Investigators identified the suspect as Alexander J. Brown, 39. Police said Brown first used the card at the restaurant on May 28, purchasing a meal worth $33.03. Days later, he returned to the same location and used the same card again for another order totaling $21.94. In both cases, the transactions were approved, but the repeated use eventually raised concerns among staff.
Employees at Tap 42 later recognized Brown when he came back to the restaurant on June 1. At that point, they contacted authorities, who responded to the scene and took him into custody without incident.
Police said they also reached out to the card’s owner, who confirmed that the American Express card had been stolen several days earlier. The owner reportedly had no knowledge of how the card information was being used until the fraudulent transactions appeared.
When officers questioned Brown, he admitted that he had found the card on the ground at The Walk of Coral Springs shopping plaza. He also acknowledged that he knew the card did not belong to him but still chose to use it to purchase food at the restaurant.
Restaurant records confirmed the two separate fraudulent charges, totaling $54.97 across both visits. What began as relatively small transactions ultimately led to criminal charges after the pattern was identified and reported.
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Further investigation revealed that Brown was already on probation for a 2023 robbery conviction. That status added another layer to the case, resulting in an additional violation-of-probation charge being filed against him.
Brown was arrested at Tap 42 and booked into custody on multiple charges, including unauthorized possession of a credit card, fraudulent use of a credit card, and violation of probation.
Authorities have not released additional details about his court date or potential sentencing. The case remains part of ongoing court proceedings as prosecutors review the combined charges tied to both the theft and prior conviction.
