Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
- Alisha Nicole Christensen, 43, was arrested for burglarizing dentist offices and businesses.
- She allegedly stole items and used stolen bank cards across Salt Lake and Utah counties.
- Police encourage potential victims to report incidents linked to Christensen's activities.
HOLLADAY — A woman who police say has been burglarizing multiple dentist offices and other businesses throughout two counties has been arrested.
Alisha Nicole Christensen, 43, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of five counts of theft, two counts of burglary and five counts of unlawfully acquiring or using a bank card. Police say Christensen is also being investigated for additional similar crimes in other jurisdictions.
"This individual goes into businesses while they're open, and goes in, goes through personal items, takes personal items, and is then leaving," Unified Police Sgt. Aymee Race said. "On two occasions that we're aware of, they have also taken vehicle keys and actually taken those vehicles and used them to go commit other crimes."
Police believe Christensen is responsible for burglaries at Natural Smiles Dentistry in Millcreek, as well as several businesses in Holladay, such as the Snowbird corporate offices, Millrock Management and the business complex at 2225 E. Murray Holladay Road.
Detectives reviewed surveillance video from some of those burglaries that shows Christensen "wearing a black wig to cover blonde hair, wearing a mid-thigh length black coat with distinct double collar, long black skirt with slit on the wearer's left side and bedazzled black flats. This suspect was seen entering several businesses' 'employee only' areas where she was not permitted," according to a police booking affidavit.
An engagement ring, keys, coats and a wallet were among the items stolen, including keys to a Subaru Outback that Christensen used to steal a car in the parking lot, the affidavit states. She later abandoned the Subaru and used the stolen bank cards to purchase gift cards and other items, according to police.
Employees at Natural Smiles Dentistry in Millcreek told KSL-TV they were victims of theft on Monday. Dr. Thomas Frank Brickey said his employees noticed the back door to an office was closed, which was unusual. Then, some of his staff said their purses had been taken out of personal lockers in that room.
He said they think the thief came in through a side door that's normally locked and exited out a back way, where he said a construction worker saw a woman wearing a white hat.
"The construction worker looked at her, but she turned her head and she walked in front of the building," Brickey said. "She stole at least three purses, wallets, keys."
Natural Smiles employees said the alleged thief stole $2,500 from a secure savings account using an employee's ID.
Following the theft, Natural Smiles employees started doing their own detective work, leading them to a KSL-TV story on a similar case from November. A dental office in Orem showed camera footage of a woman wearing what appeared to be a wig and a white beanie, rummaging through their break room and stealing personal items.
"At 3 (p.m.) that day, she went to Home Depot and tried to use the credit cards, tried to buy $1,500 worth of stuff, and the Home Depot suspected something was wrong," Brickey said. "We showed her pictures from your previous stories, and the manager at Home Depot said, 'Yes, that's the same woman.'"
Detectives said Christensen allegedly stole wallets, credit cards and car keys from that Orem dentist's office on Nov. 6 and another in Draper on Oct. 29.
Emily Goodrich, a dental hygienist in Orem, said Brandi Wendrich from Out of This World Dentistry, in Draper, reached out to her after seeing reports of what was happening.
"She just popped her head in the front door, and I asked her if there was something I could help her with because she struck me kind of odd," Wendrich said. "She said, 'I was looking for,' kind of mumbled a dentist's name that I didn't recognize."
She left but was spotted by another employee in the break room.
"Asked her, 'Can I help you with something?' And she says, 'Oh, no, I'm just lost,'" Wendrich said.
The back room has an outside door. Wendrich said that is how they think the alleged thief got inside.
"She just walks in like she's a patient. She's quick," Wendrich said. "She knows what she's doing. She comes in, she knows what she's looking for. It sounds like she targets offices that have dual entrances."
Draper police confirmed the suspect in their case is the same individual investigated in the Orem case and said they were working with Unified police, as well.
If you feel something's wrong, something's wrong. Trust your gut.
–Dr. Thomas Frank Brickey, Natural Smiles Dentistry
Wendrich and Brickey said the thefts left their offices feeling violated.
"If you feel something's wrong, something's wrong," Brickey said. "Trust your gut. When people prove who they are, believe them."
Christensen, who "has an extensive history with stolen vehicles and thefts," also stole a vehicle that had $30,000 worth of tools in it on Jan. 2, the affidavit states.
She was located on Thursday in Midvale and arrested.
Race said police welcome the public's help in cases like this.
"When people see the information that we ask you guys to put out or put it out on social media, and they recognize these people, more often than not, we do get tips of who those individuals are, where they've last seen them," she said.
She said anyone who thinks they might also be potential victims, or think a previously reported case may be linked to Christensen, should contact police at Estory@unifiedpoliceut.gov or call 801-840-4000.
