Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 30-year-old Tallahassee woman Oct. 15 in connection with the theft and fraudulent use of credit cards stolen from a Crawfordville victim on Oct. 7 in Franklin County, according to Sheriff Donnie Crum.

Elizabeth Lauren Watts faces 10 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, four counts of forgery and one count of grand theft.  She is incarcerated in the Wakulla County Jail under an $11,500 bond.

The Crawfordville victim reported a vehicle burglary in the Alligator Point area of Franklin County where her purse, identification and credit cards were stolen.

Detectives determined that the victim’s credit cards were used fraudulently 10 times in Sopchoppy and Crawfordville for a total of $922.  Law enforcement used video surveillance from multiple businesses to reveal the identity of the suspect and identify the suspect vehicle.

On Oct. 13, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that matched the description on the video.  The suspect was also identified through photographs.

On Oct. 15, WCSO detectives made contact with Watts at a location in Panacea.  During the contact, law enforcement observed items that were purchased at one of the Crawfordville merchants.

Watts was arrested without incident.  Charges against Watts are also pending in Franklin County.  Detective Matt Helms and Deputy Scott Powell investigated the case along with Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carl Whaley.

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