MPD: Hotel clerk using guest credit card

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile hotel clerk is behind bars after the Mobile Police Department said he was doing more than checking guests in. They said he was using their credit card information to make purchases.

When you check into a hotel you think your payment information is safe, but Ashley Rains with the police department said that wasn't the case with Bryant Niles behind the front desk.

"While working as a front desk clerk at a local hotel, he actually stole credit card information from one victim who had previously stayed at the hotel," said Rains.

Rains said Niles got the guest's information from the hotel's computer database and used it for more than just their rooms.

"He used this information to book hotels for him and his friends, and we were actually able to catch him," said Rains.

This wasn't Niles' first time behind bars. He has been arrested several times for charges like identity theft and possession of a forged instrument.

"He was on probation for the same crimes when he committed these," said Rains.

Police said Niles charged a significant amount of money. Thankfully the victim was monitoring the transactions.

"As a safeguard just to make sure that your credit cards aren't being used fraudulently, the best thing you can do is check your accounts and alert your credit card provider if you'd see anything fraudulent," said Rains.

Niles is charged with three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, theft of property and a felony probation violation.