UF student charged with 7 felonies for allegedly taking cash and credit cards from SW Rec Center lockers

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alana Jolie Smith, 19, was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing cash and credit cards from lockers at the UF Southwest Recreation Center on four different dates.

According to an investigation by the University of Florida Police Department, women who had placed their items in lockers at the Recreation Center reported that items were missing on April 18, 20, 21, and 22.

On April 18, a bag belonging to the first victim was moved from one locker to a second locker; when the bag was found, it was clear that someone had rummaged through the contents of the bag, and $17 cash and a $20 Starbucks gift card were stolen. On April 19, the first victim noticed two unauthorized charges on her debit card, one for $20 on the Bird app and one for $48.99 for the TikTok shop.

On April 20, bags belonging to two victims were moved from a locker at the Recreation Center; after they were found, $115 in cash and a $25 gift card were reported as missing from the bags. On April 21, one of the victims noticed a charge of $29.88 for Doordash on her debit card.

On April 21, a bag belonging to a fourth victim was moved to a different locker, and after the bag was found, the victim reported that $20 in cash, a Starbucks gift card, a Dunkin’ gift card, and two Visa gift cards were missing.

On April 22, a bag belonging to a fifth victim was moved to a different locker, and surveillance video reportedly showed Smith standing in front of the lockers for about 11 minutes, trying the handles of various lockers. When a locker opened, Smith is shown moving a bag from that locker to a different locker. A short time later, the fifth victim can be seen walking to her locker and looking for her bag while Smith surreptitiously watches; after the victim leaves, Smith is seen returning to the backpack and rummaging through it before leaving it in the second locker. Smith can be seen trying to open several other lockers before leaving the area. The victim reported that $40 in cash was missing from her bag. On April 23, the fifth victim noticed an unauthorized charge on her credit card for $133.74 at Petco.

Smith gave consent for a search of her phone, and officers reportedly found a picture of the first victim’s debit card and an email from the TikTok Shop, a picture of the second and third victims’ bank cards and an email for a Doordash order, a picture of the fourth victim’s credit and debit cards, and a picture of the fifth victim’s credit card, along with a canceled Petco order.

Smith, who is described as a UF student in a court document, has been charged with three counts of engaging in a scheme to defraud, one felony count of fraudulent use of a credit card, three counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, two misdemeanor counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, and five counts of petit theft. She has no criminal history, and Judge Bo Bayer set bail at $28,000 ($2,000 per charge).

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.