File this under “how dumb are you?” According to Click Orlando, a valet who worked for a third-party company at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village was arrested after allegedly stealing checks and making them out to himself.
Mason Henrichsen is accused of stealing a guest’s checkbook and writing four checks to himself, taking almost $1,300. He wrote them to himself and didn’t think they would catch him?
What happened?
Reports from the Orange County Sheriff’s office state that a woman from Ohio checked into Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, on a Saturday, and by Wednesday, she started getting bank alerts for withdrawals she did not authorize. Four checks were put through her band for $250, $670, $ 98, and $230.
When the victim checked her vehicle, her checkbook was missing.
Her bank sent copies of the cashed checks, and all of them were made out to Mason Henrichsen.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies spoke to the valet manager and learned that Henrichsen was indeed an employee at that location. He was also scheduled to work that evening. When he came into work, he was taken into custody.
How did he get the checkbook?
When authorities questioned Henrichsen, he said that he “found a check on the parking lot ground and decided to write it out to himself.” Then took the checks to a bank near Disney Springs.
Henrichsen is currently facing felony charges for forgery and fraud. His case is moving on to the Economic Crimes Unit.
The lesson here is that just because you are on Disney property does not mean that crimes don’t happen. I know it’s the Disney bubble, and people are excited, but always make sure you have your money, credit cards, and checkbook with you when you leave your vehicle.
Guests often get excited and forget. I’ve seen photos of guest who have left their vehicles running, didn’t shut their car doors or trunk door because they were rushing to “get to the magic.” Make sure you are mindful while you are having fun.
Side note – Assuming it’s all true, I still can’t believe someone was dumb enough to steal checks and then write them to themself. I guess this is what they mean by “foolish mortal.”
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