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P.F. Chang's Employee Arrested On Suspicion Of Credit Card Theft In LA

EL SEGUNDO (CBSLA.com) — A 25-year-old man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of stealing credit card information from dozens of his restaurant customers.

Five victims, who paid with separate credit cards, discovered fraudulent charges on their accounts within a week of dining together at P.F. Chang's, according to the El Segundo Police Department.

Police said the victims reported the credit card fraud on Feb. 21.

Around 6:20 p.m. Monday, an off-duty officer dined at the restaurant and witnessed a waiter -- later identified as Dalevaun Lee Hooks, of Los Angeles -- scan a customer's credit card through a card reader that was kept in his back pocket.

Authorities responded to P.F. Chang's, contacted Hooks and subsequently recovered the card reader.

According to police, Hooks admitted to stealing the credit card information of dozens of customers over a course of five months. He was subsequently arrested.

Hooks was employed as a server and bartender at the restaurant.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or similar crimes is urged to contact the El Segundo Police Department at (310) 524-2277.

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