A Kirkland woman allegedly stole her co-worker’s identity to improve her own.

Alexandra K. Polack was charged with identity theft and unlawful issuance of checks in King County Superior Court March 26 after stealing a co-worker’s credit card. She used it to pay for a “tummy tuck,” liposuction and attempting to make five separate purchases at an electronics store in Bellevue.

According to charging documents, Polack, who is a medical assistant, went to lunch with a co-worker during an August orientation in Seattle and took a credit card from the woman’s purse while she was in the restroom. The co-worker was not aware anything was taken until the next day when Polack called her. The Kirkland resident told the woman a story about having her own credit cards stolen and $7,000 in charges made within the last 24 hours at a Bellevue store.

Polack, 39, asked if the coworker was missing anything and the victim confirmed that a credit card and her passport had been taken from her purse. Upon calling the credit card company, the victim learned of five attempted charges at the Best Buy in Bellevue, which had been declined. Four more attempted charges were made at a Kirkland plastic surgery office, including two transactions that were accepted, totaling $1,929.

Investigators learned that Polack, who was a patient at the plastic surgery office, had made payments on the card over the phone. The Kirkland woman had made five payments for plastic surgery procedures, with the second and third made to the victim’s card, totaling $9,900. A sixth payment was made by personal check for a pending breast lift in the amount of $5,831, which was returned for non-sufficient funds and the surgery was canceled. An investigator with Polack’s bank said that the account was closed due to abuse.

Polack called the victim after learning investigators had contacted her plastic surgeon, apologized for stealing the card and begged her to not involve the police. The woman immediately called investigators following the call.

The next day Polack checked herself into Evergreen Hospital complaining of an infection from the surgical procedures but tests came back negative. Polack was admitted to Evergreen Hospital 24 hours later for a suicide attempt.

A manager at the two women’s work informed investigators that two other employees were missing credit cards. The credit cards were used approximately a half hour after Polack had clocked out that day.

Polack has not been jailed on the charges.