Accused quick change artist arrested in string of cash thefts throughout Washtenaw County

Cathy Thacker

Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Thacker at a residence in the 100 block of Harris Street in Ypsilanti Township Wednesday morning, reports said.

Four police jurisdictions, including the Sheriff’s Department and the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, had warrants for her arrest on charges of fraud under false pretenses, unlawfully driving away an automobile and other traffic offenses.

Police reports indicate she’s also wanted in Howell and Chesterfield Township for fraud under false pretenses.

In each case, Thacker allegedly used sleight-of-hand and confidence to swindle small amounts of cash from waitresses and unsuspecting clerks without a weapon or disguise, said Saline Police Detective Don Lupi.

Lupi said Thacker is suspected in two separate incidents that occurred within an hour one day last week in Saline.

Police reports say Thacker bought a sandwich for roughly $6 at a Saline eatery shortly after 3 p.m. March 2. She paid with a $20 bill, but as the clerk turned to hand her the food, Thacker allegedly insisted she got five $1 dollar bills in change instead of one $10 bill she was owed. Reports indicate video recordings of the incident show the woman quickly changing the bills in her hand. The incident wasn't reported until a few hours later.

Officers also took a report from a restaurant, where employees said Thacker went directly to the cashier to exchange four $10 bills into two $20 bills sometime before 4 p.m.

The employee handed her the $20 bills, but as she turned around, the woman said she mistakenly received one $20 bill and a $1 bill and held them up, reports said. The employee handed her another $20.

Lupi said he'll forward reports to prosecutors seeking charges of larceny by trick.

Police reports show Thacker was charged with similar crimes in Livonia and Romulus in 2007. Thacker was also wanted on a 2009 bench warrant for failing to appear at sentencing on a larceny charge. Last spring, she pleaded guilty to one count of larceny of less than $200 for a similar incident at a Saline sandwich shop, Lupi said. She never showed for sentencing in September.

Lupi said he suspects many other victims exist, but never noticed the theft or were too ashamed to report it.

“A lot of people don’t call police because they’re embarrassed or aren’t even sure it’s a crime,” he said. “Although it seems like petty thefts, on a daily and weekly basis it can add up.”

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.