Abilene police arrest suspect in hotel room crime spree

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing credit cards from multiple hotels across Abilene.

On January 13, 2024, a guest at the Residence Inn on Musgrave Boulevard discovered that her bank card, left in the hotel room, had been used to make $615 in unauthorized charges.

Security footage showed a suspect reaching over the front desk and taking the hotel’s master key card. Soon after, multiple guests reported that items from their rooms had been stolen. The Abilene Police Department later reviewed surveillance video from Walmart, where documents say the suspect, John Sneed, was seen using the victim’s card to make purchases.

The next day, officers were called to the Hampton Inn on West Lake Road after someone entered a guest’s room and stole four credit cards, a debit card, and $300 in cash. One of the stolen cards was then used to charge $504 at Walmart.

Police identified three suspects, none of whom were registered guests, who were allegedly seen trying to access storage closets and housekeeping carts. By utilizing surveillance cameras, police identified Sneed as a suspect. Another victim reported that the general manager of TownePlace Suites by Marriott had called 911 the day before to report an unknown person attempting to enter hotel rooms.

APD later learned that Sneed had outstanding warrants in Montgomery and Ector Counties for similar hotel room break-ins involving stolen bank cards.

Sneed was booked into the Taylor County Jail on charges of burglary of habitation, theft, and credit/debit card abuse. His total bond was set at $60,000.