Man Accused of Swiping Credit Cards from Wayzata Cars

A Brooklyn Center man has been charged with breaking into two cars in the parking lot of Wayzata’s Martinson Clinic last month, stealing a credit card and using it at a nearby store and a Wayzata gas station.

David James Appling, 50, is charged with financial transaction card fraud, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Appling remains in the Hennepin County Jail on a $3,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled June 19 in Hennepin County District Court.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Wayzata Police Lt. Michael Murphy, police were called to the Martinson Clinic parking lot just after 10 p.m. May 22 on two reports of vehicle break-ins.

One victim told officers that the rear driver’s-side window on his 2002 Lexus had been smashed, and a black leather briefcase containing miscellaneous documents stolen. A second victim told police that someone broke the front passenger window on his 2007 Dodge Caravan and removed a number of items, including a Wells Fargo debit card.

The thief used the card to charge $300 worth of merchandise at the Ridgedale Macy’s store and also used it at a BP gas station in Wayzata, according to the complaint. He also tried to withdraw money from a Wells Fargo Bank ATM, but was unsuccessful.

Surveillance video showed the man—later identified as Appling—driving an older gray Mercedes, with at least two numbers in the license plate. The video was matched to surveillance video from Macy’s.

Officers searched Minnesota Department of Public Safety records for license plates containing the two numbers and traced the vehicle break-ins to Appling, the complaint says.

Police learned that Appling was on supervised release on an earlier unrelated conviction, and that he had an appointment to meet with his supervising agent on June 1. Officers showed up at the Hennepin County probation office in Brooklyn Center on June 1 and arrested Appling.