More than two dozen current and former waiters and their associates from some of New York City's top steakhouses have been arrested for allegedly stealing credit card numbers from wealthy customers, NBC New York has learned.

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Several suspects are from top city restaurants like Smith and Wollensky, Capital Grille and Wolfgang Steak, as well as Morton’s in Stamford and the Bicycle Club in New Jersey, sources said.

The alleged scam targeted customers who often paid with American Express Black cards and other high-limit credit cards, according to sources.

Read the original story at NBCNewYork.com

Law enforcement sources said some restaurant workers used handheld scanners to copy the credit card information as they walked away to process the bill.

Later, that information would be sent to leaders of the alleged fraud ring, who would forge new credit cards with the stolen information and test them out on taxis.

Bought Chanel, Jimmy Choo

If the cards worked, the suspects would go on huge shopping sprees, buying up expensive goods like Chanel and Jimmy Choo shoes.

The thieves would then re-sell the luxury brand items for cash.

Officials estimate profits totaled at least $1 million, sources said.

NYPD officials and District Attorney Cy Vance were expected to announce details of the case Friday.

Many of the suspects were also expected to be arraigned in Manhattan criminal court.

An NYPD spokesman declined to comment Thursday, as did a Vance spokeswoman.

Managers at Smith and Wollensky, the Bicycle Club and Capital Grille restaurants declined to comment, some referring calls to their PR offices.

A manager at one Wolfgang’s restaurant said he believed all workers on the schedule Thursday had arrived and was unaware of any law enforcement allegations against any worker.

A manager at Morton's referred calls to its corporate headquarters.

Officials stress restaurant operators had no knowledge of the alleged crimes by the few employees.