Top Stories

Employee used guests' credit cards to book rooms at Pittsburgh hotels, police say

PITTSBURGH — Police say a man who has worked at several area hotels has been stealing random guests’ credit card numbers.

According to a criminal complaint, the suspect worked in various hotels in the city for the past several years and that's where he was able to get access to, and steal, the information.

If you want to receive BREAKING ALERTS, please download our WPXI News App.

While he did not work there, Mark Melodia racked up nearly $5,000 in room charges, trips to the gift shop and room service at the Omni William Penn, according to the complaint.

According to police, it was all under the name Ricardo Ramirez and bought with a stolen credit card.

TRENDING NOW:

Melodia told police he obtained various credit cards of random guests who stayed at various area hotels when he was employed as the "front desk person."

Melodia was originally arrested for unrelated charges at the hotel and then, weeks later, detectives said he tried again to make a reservation with the same stolen card. That's when security called police.

Melodia is accused of stealing credit card information while working at local hotels.

Eventually, investigators said they found him across town, staying at the Sheraton in Station Square.

Channel 11 has asked police what he hotels he worked at and how many bank accounts could be compromised.