A man suspected of stealing checks from his neighbor’s home is believed to have cashed at least 30 of them totaling nearly $4,000. Thomas Harding, 37, is charged with two counts of residential burglary and 30 counts of forgery. Las Cruces Police detectives learned that in late February, Harding’s 49-year-old neighbor discovered several of his checks had been cashed by Thomas Harding at a Mr. Payroll store. The neighbor had not written any checks to Harding and had never given Harding authorization to use his checks. In fact, the neighbor only knew of Harding because they lived next door to each other. Upon further investigation, it was learned that Harding cashed 30 checks belonging to the neighbor between October 2013 and February 2014. The checks were cashed at various locations within Las Cruces. The total amount drawn on the checks was $3,968.34. The victim acknowledged that, up until February, he paid little attention to his bank account. Harding is suspected of breaking into the neighbor’s home and stealing the checks. Harding also is suspected of taking additional items from the same home. Additional charges are pending. Harding was arrested Friday, April 25, and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $20,000.
Man Suspected Of Cashing Neighbor's Checks
