A March 7 preliminary hearing is set for the Bridal Bandit, a 50-year-old woman who allegedly stole credit cards from brides during marriage ceremonies.
Denise Louise Gunderson, who is also known under the name of Denise Burns, was extradited from Las Vegas and was arraigned recently in San Diego Superior Court on 25 counts of grand theft, identity theft and burglary.
Gunderson dressed up like a guest at weddings at golf courses in Coronado, Santee and Fallbrook and allegedly slipped inside changing rooms to steal the brides’ credit cards.
She is also accused of stealing credit cards of three wedding attendants at one event and is also charged with stealing a wallet from an employee at a La Mesa bridal shop. Another count involves the theft of a wallet of a wedding coordinator.
The sheriff’s department released her photo from security cameras to identify her. She fled the area to Las Vegas, but was arrested there after stealing a wallet from a church around Dec. 7.
Court records say Gunderson used the credit cards at Target, TJ Maxx, Albertson’s, CVS Pharmacy, Costco and to buy gasoline at service stations.
The losses are still being calculated, but the bride in Fallbrook had $1,044 charged to her credit cards. The loss to an employee of David’s Bridal store was $300, according to the sheriff’s department.
Gunderson has a criminal record of thefts.
