Go ahead and face this wall over here and put your hands on your back. >> We're just going to chat with you about why they stopped you and all that tonight. Sound like you had a couple of warrants or something. >> All right, so the next step would be taking into custody for theft. [music] >> The biggest thefts don't always come from strangers. Sometimes they come from the person holding the store keys. These are times when managers were caught stealing at work. Refund records lead police straight to the manager. Officers respond to a Sam's Club after store management reports that an employee is suspected of carrying out a fraudulent refund scheme. Here's what happens next. >> Uhoh. >> That's what they all say. >> I'm retired. >> Oh, cool. >> Yes, you >> have a good one, guys. >> Thank you. Nice to meet you. What's going on today, sir? >> So, we had an associate that we've been our corporate office uh asked to start looking into her transactions as she was using her own operator numbers and she was falsely doing refund at the desk. So, uh, our asset protection is up with her right now and they asked me to call for you guys. Uh, it's to the level that they are going to want to press charges, I'm guessing it. >> Okay. They are going to want to press charges for this. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> As long as it's been going on, it's a considerable amount. >> Gotcha. I'm going to walk to the office. >> Sure. >> I have another uh my corporal my uh another officer is here. >> Okay. Okay. >> Should we wait for them and then go up real quick if you would like to? >> It might Yeah, it might make the most sense. >> Hold on. >> It's like backing up the stairs. So, I just told him we'll wait for you and we'll go up. Basically, an employee's been stealing over time. >> What's that? >> An employee's been stealing over time. Told me, oh, we can go up there to the office. What? I don't have a knife in here. I don't know what happens. might be. It might be in the car, but I I never took it out >> unless I banged on something. >> Officers meet with [music] the store's asset protection investigators, who explained that the employee has already been interviewed internally before [music] police arrived. All right. So, what's going on? >> I conducted a interview today. Uh Sam Sled from Walmart. We do interviews on employees that commit theft. So, she's done refund fraud over couple dates that we have in this folder. Uh totaling what's the total again? >> Um over $1,100. >> Over $1,100. >> What is the refund fraud? How does that work? >> So, um you want to explain it, Christine? So, we have an employee purchase policy which states that an employee cannot do refunds purchased under their own membership or anybody within their household. It is just a checks and balance thing. Um, and it was found that Miss Janine here um did numerous transactions under her own membership um totaling over $1,100. So like the item was not actually received but >> she had bought the item um and then it was refunded to her method of payment >> and the item was not returned. >> Correct. Um it was all fresh items. So we do not require fresh items to be returned within the club just because we automatically dispose of them. Anything that's comes from any of our fresh departments is automatically a throwaway. >> Gotcha. >> And her being in her position she would know that. Do you have receipts or a print out or something that we'd be able to use for documentation? >> We do. Do you want me to make copies of it? Actually, I have copy of my file. So, >> so are you able to print this? Like >> I can give you a print out of the whole thing. >> Yeah. So, I don't I don't think they're going to need all of that, right? They just need these specific highlighted dates. >> I'm not going to have that. So, I actually have a a whole file that has all the highlighted date or dates of her purchases underneath her. Um, anything that has a negative next to it is going to be a refund. >> And they're all fraudulent refunds. >> Um, yes. Anything that on here. >> After reviewing the evidence, the officer [music] reads the employee her Miranda writes before asking about the case. >> Yeah, just whatever you can and then we'll get a combined total. I just need a written statement by one of you guys. Whoever can write out the details. >> Yeah. So, I just conducted an interview right where she made submitted what she was doing. >> I'm just going to read the Miranda warning. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning. If you wish, you can decide anytime to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand the rights as I read them to you? >> Yes, sir. So, are you going through a hard hard time? Is that what's going on or >> So, what's So, is that why you did this or >> Well, some items weren't good and some items they were perishable. So, >> So, were you the one that operated the register when when you refunded it to your membership or >> So, how long's this been going on? Um we have from back in um so we have a beginning as far back as we can go of April of 2023. if you can on the state with the dates and how many transactions you can write that information right there for you >> it was 1100 or >> uh actually looking at this it was over 17 >> 1700 >> it's 17729 >> um and that's continued to go on you take the green vest off for me please >> can you stand up for me either. >> Go ahead and face this wall over here and put your hands on your back. >> So, you guys have to give me handcuffs walking out the store. >> Yep. That's what happens when you get arrested, unfortunately. >> They explained that the arrest will become [music] part of her criminal record and could affect future job applications. The employee quietly accepts the [music] situation. I understand that. >> And this stays in your record, right? >> What's that? >> And it stays in your record. >> Yeah, it'll be listed on your record. Everything. >> So when you're trying to apply for work, >> it'll probably show. >> What area of store does she work in? >> H >> what area of the store does? >> Front end. Yes. The cashiers are in the customer service desk membership desk >> primarily. She is trained in all areas of the front end but primarily membership. >> Okay. >> Can you highlight 56 when you're available? >> I can put the total on the top. >> Because those all those highlights were handone. >> Leave your camera on it when you stop to put that in there and then you do what you got to do. >> Um you can hold on to all of it. >> Miss Janine, if you can stand up. We're gonna go to your car. That's >> mom. behind this car. So, sit straight in and just stick your butt right in or you got it. Too tall. Okay. Is that okay? Yeah. Get the AC going and the cameras. Right in front of that red car that's right next to you. Okay. >> No, right here. Right there. That red car to your left hand side. >> After making sure all of her belongings have been accounted [music] for, officers place her in the patrol vehicle. Everything else was put in the car. We got the wallet, phone, and keys going into the jail. Okay. >> The case later results [music] in two felony charges. Fraud or swindle to obtain property valued at less than $20,000 and grand theft. Ex-managers armed robbery hens [music] in arrest. Police respond to a McDonald's after employees report that [music] they have just been robbed at gunpoint by a former coworker. They arrive at the McDonald's and begin interviewing employees to piece together exactly [music] what happened during the armed robbery. >> This is going to be the lead officer on this case. So, she she's going to interview you in terms of like how all of this went down and what you saw and everything. >> Okay. Okay. >> Um, is your manager able to like come in and pull up video or >> not currently in town right now? She's trying to call her supervisor to actually contact him. I'm going to actually try to call him right now and see if uh any development. >> Okay. Did any of y'all witness this? >> Yeah, I saw her first. >> Okay. >> What's the timeline? >> She asked. >> It went now. >> When did this happen? >> It literally just happened in like 20 minutes ago. >> Yeah, it was like pretty it was straightforward. >> She came in with a paper saying >> she didn't say anything. She just came in and and I read it and then >> So, she had like a like a old school bank like a holdup note. >> Mhm. Yeah, it says surrender pretty much surrender your phones and stuff like that. And we gave her our phones and stuff and that's when we came to the office. She said give her everything >> out of the registers whatever was in the safe and which I did and she gave us our phones back. >> So she got all she got the money out of the safe. >> Yeah, I gave her the money out of the safe that she asked and then she gave us our phones back out that >> and then she left in a vehicle. >> I don't know what vehicle she left in cuz we were still in the office. >> Understand? >> At the time. So, I seen a vehicle drive by. I don't know if that was her vehicle or just a random customer coming through. >> Um, if y'all want to do a tape statement with him, I got it with her. >> Okay. >> Um, you can follow me out here. >> You swear affirm that the statement you're about to give will be true and correct to the best of your knowledge. Okay. Uh, tell me what happened. >> Okay. So, I seen her first. She walked up. She didn't say anything, but she had the paper and I was looking. At first, I was kind of confused cuz I was like, she tried to hand it to me, but I didn't really touch it. >> She's like, "Read it." And then I I read it and then I gave her my phone. She like, "Give me your phone." And then I got my manager's attention. I told him, "She wants your phone." And stuff. And then he realized that. One employee gives a detailed [music] account of the robbery, walking the officer through everything she saw and experienced [music] from the moment the suspect entered the restaurant. >> Okay. >> So, who is she? >> I didn't recognize her, but when you saw she he's like she used to work here and only one I know on Facebook I don't that was I know who I know who she is. I've met her before. >> Okay. >> Her work. >> Okay. >> So, is her face familiar to you? I honestly what to pay for my teacher. >> I don't know. I just [music] everything out of the bag. >> Um >> everything. >> So what what what did the note say? >> It was like I forgot. I'm sorry. >> I just know it was like I know it said give me your phone. >> I think it had something about a manager on it. So, what were you thinking when you read that note? >> Like what like what what did you think was about to happen? >> Well, cuz at first I didn't see the gun, but she had like cuz then she kind of came a little close like we she was like almost like kind of how near you were >> so I saw the gun. She had it behind the paper. >> She had the gun behind the paper. >> Mhm. >> Okay. What kind of gun was it? >> I know it's gray. It's like a gray color. I think like yours, but it was like it wasn't too big. It was like like a pistol, I think. >> I'm not too sure. >> Okay. >> It wasn't too big. They were not too small either. >> So, you were standing >> in the kitchen and she came over here and she came in the kitchen. >> Okay. She came into the kitchen and showed you the note. >> Mhm. >> With a gun behind the milk. >> Mhm. You didn't know she had a gun. She came a little closer. >> Okay. And she did she say anything to you? >> Give me your phone. >> Okay. Like who? I think she said the manager. Then I got my manager attention. Okay. And then what happened after that? >> She explains [music] that she doesn't know exactly how much money was stolen because she doesn't have [music] access to the safe, but she clearly remembers the suspect leaving with a large amount of cash. >> Then I got the other employee cuz he got headphones on. I got his attention cuz she's like, "Give me all the phones." >> Okay. And then what happened after that? >> She took the um the store phone and then she told us to go back to the office. >> And then we had to get the other employee cuz he is >> in the back doing dishes. >> She just told him, give her all the money. So he gave her all the money. Then she gave us our phone back and she told us not to leave the office. >> Okay. Where where did the money come from? >> The the same. >> Do you know about how much money? >> No. I don't have that. >> Did it look like a little bit? A lot? cuz it was some that came out of the bank bag. There's some I know there's a they had the um the things that go into the cashier. So, I know there's 150 goes in each one, but she didn't take any change. So, I'm not sure how much it will be without in the change. She changed. >> Okay. So, then what happened after she took the money? >> She gave us our phone back >> and then what happened? She said, "Don't leave the office until Okay." And then she said, "Just don't leave the office." >> Okay. >> And then she left. >> Okay. >> Did you see which way she went? >> No. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um, do you remember anything else that is significant to what happened tonight? Anything that might help us? Before wrapping up the interview, the officer asks whether the suspect touched anything that [music] could have left fingerprints or other physical evidence behind. >> Did she touch anything? >> Um, she touched the phones >> and the um the store phone. >> I'm not sure if she put that back. Do you have anything else you want to add to your statement? >> About 30 minutes later, patrol officers stop a Dodge Charger connected to the investigation. Inside the [music] vehicle, they find cash, a McDonald's money bag, a handgun, and clothing that appears to match what was seen on the restaurant surveillance footage. >> All right. So, basically, you said the gun is in >> it's on the passenger side >> towards the middle console. to the middle console and the cash is here. >> Um, anything else in the car? >> Um, >> no. >> So, in the trunk, I got my work knife. >> Your work knife? Okay. All right. Is what's all in the car is yours. Like, I know you said the cash is yours. >> Um, >> well, the gun that's my brother's, but that he he been having it with me because he went to jail. >> So, you kind of keep it. You're not a convicted felon or anything, so you're allowed to have it. >> Well, I don't have my my license for it. You don't need one in the state of Florida. >> Yeah. So, I just keep >> as long as you haven't been arrested. There's like 70,000 stipulations, but yeah, you don't need one in the state of Florida anymore. Um, so your hand like your fingerprints and stuff will be on the gun like Okay. >> I I got two jobs this time of night. I'll be just getting home one in the morning. >> Yeah. >> So, it's like I'm always driving and I don't know what's going to be next. That's why my money under the seat cuz you don't know what's going to be next, right? And I was trying to go her and put that in the bank because like I told you, Monday is the 11th and that got to be on the 11th. >> Is that where you were heading to right now? >> To the bank. >> Which bank you going to? >> Chase Bank. >> Where's that? >> Chase is right there. Um by that little mall. Is it? I don't know. I'm from Orlando. It's like a little mall like >> Oh, like the north side >> by Chick-fil-A. >> Oh yeah, you was going north. After arriving at the police station, the suspect is escorted into an interview room where detectives prepared to question her about the armed robbery. We're good. >> Yes, [snorts] sir. All right. What's your first name? >> Oh, you should. >> How do you spell it? >> Last name, [snorts] right? We're just going to chat with you about why they stopped you and all that tonight from what sounds like you had a couple warrants or something like that. Yeah. >> So, I'm going to read you your Miranda rights and then we'll go ahead and get the interview started. You have the right to remain silent. You understand that? >> Mhm. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You understand that? >> Yes. >> You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have their lawyer present with you while you're being questioned. You understand that? >> Yes. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You understand that? >> Yes. >> You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. You understand that? >> Yes. >> Okay. If you would just initial one through five and then read this. >> After completing [music] the Miranda waiver, the detective begins asking where officers stopped her and where she had been earlier that night. How did they come across you tonight? The officers to stop the my house is out of my subdivision. >> Where do you live at? >> Blue Highlands. >> Where's that at? >> Airport road. >> Okay. Where'd you go home for? >> What What do you mean? I was leaving out of my >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Where were you heading to? [snorts] >> Going to the bank. >> Okay. What bank do you go to? >> Chase. Where's that at? >> By Chick-fil-A. I'm I'm from Orlando. >> Oh, okay. >> Buy a Chick-fil-A. Buy a mall. >> North North Lakeland. >> Yeah. >> Okay. You just going to What were you going to do? >> Put money in the boot. >> Okay. >> Gotcha. What' you do for a living? >> Um, in the morning I'm a construction worker and at night I work at McDonald's. >> Okay. Which McDonald's? >> No one in Orlando. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Construction work in Melbourne. What were we doing over here? >> Well, lately. >> Yeah. >> Me and my girl just got a house here. >> All right. Now, is that house that you live in, is it paid for? >> No, we rent. >> Okay. Well, how much is your rent? >> Well, that's why I was going to the bank cuz we got a late fee. It's 2,700, but >> Well, that's cuz the late fee. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> But a month is 2,300. >> How much do you make working? Mhm. I made 17 an hour and Matt Donuts 1450 an hour. >> So what's that bring? Is that you get paid each week? >> M we get paid on Friday. >> Okay. How much you usually bring home >> on a good week? >> 500. What about construction? >> I just started that one. The detective then confronts her with the evidence recovered during [music] the traffic stop. When she insists the cash came from her own jobs, he explains that investigators have already [music] linked the money to the McDonald's robbery. >> Okay. And you hadn't gotten a paycheck for that yet? >> I just got one, but it was small because I just started it. So it's like >> useful when we >> because hard right now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know why we're here. Aisha, >> they they didn't they she didn't tell me nothing. That was uh taken from McDonald's tonight. >> But that's the TD bag that my grand used for all her receipts >> for >> with that TD bag. That TD bag had that in it. >> No, that's the money that I make that I made >> from >> for my jobs that I put together. >> Me and my girl, we went to the strip club. >> Do you always wrap it like that? >> Me and my girl going to the strip club one day. >> Do you always wrap it like that with your initials? No, I got that from Navy Federal 100 from Navy Federal in Naples. [clears throat] >> Tell me that one. >> I need everything. >> Is that Is that for the strip club, too? >> They just say I need I need everything. I don't know exactly what it says. you know why we're here. Let you know why you're here. So, what what's going on? I know you're down on your luck. You don't you don't have rent and I understand all that and it's understandable, but what's what's going on? I need to hear it from you. >> You got to you got to save you got to save your rent. I understand that. so you can stay at your house, stay with your girl. No, I get it. I get all that. What's What's going on? >> The detective tells her he understands [music] she may have been trying to support her family, but explains that his job is to find out exactly what happened. He encourages her to be honest about the robbery. >> It's hard times. It It's hard times cuz I'm I do the same thing. I'm weak to week myself. Just try to find the way the ends meet. But it's hard. But that's why we're giving you a chance to let us know cuz we could easily just send you down to jail and we got we want to hear it from you because it's it sounds better in the court system if if you're you know feel remorseful and stuff like that. But if you tell us the pound sand then it doesn't look so good for you. We just want to know what's what's going on cuz everybody there at the uh McDonald's knew who you were except for one and know your voice. So, and I'm just shooting straight with you, okay? [clears throat] They know who you are and that's how we were able to come across you so quick. And you can you can cry, get upset. I understand it's tough times. But I just need to kind of figure out why. I mean, I understand why you did it now because you need money and it's due tomorrow, correct? Your rent >> on the 11. >> Yeah. And it's hard. You don't want to lose your house. You have a baby? >> 5-year-old. >> Yeah. Where's she at? >> Well, she she fine, but with X, but I have her sometime. >> Yeah. You want to take care of her and all that? Do you have uh c care custody paperwork for her? >> No. where she live >> in Orlando. >> Yeah. Okay. But no, I understand all that. You want to have a place for her to come, a house, and all that, you know, but we just need to figure out we have a job to do just like you have two jobs you have to do to make ends meet. And [snorts] we just, you know, what what's going on? We need to hear it from you. What's that? >> I think those are all all pictures. After going over the physical evidence, the detective begins asking detailed questions about how the robbery was [music] planned and carried out. >> That's That's not the real note. The real note is in that sweatshirt. >> Okay. But what what was this then? >> I was writing on that, but I I thought I threw it out, but the real one is inside the sweatshirt. >> Okay. What does What does the note say? >> I don't remember. You have to get it. That was in here. >> Okay. That's the money bag. What? What is that from? >> That's from McDonald's in it. >> That's the sweatshirt, but not the gloves. >> Okay. Where are your gloves? >> It's It's under here. It's under the sweatshirt or in the trunk. The black gloves. >> They're not slides. Them boots. The boots is in the trunk. They They're my construction boots. >> Okay. >> They're not That's not a mask. That's really my head wrap. >> Okay. Where's your mask at? >> I didn't have a mask. >> Did you have like a mask or something? I have a mask. I use that. I just put it. >> Okay. So, you did use that then. Okay. All right. Now, where did the money Did all the money come from? McDonald's? >> No. >> What came from? >> Just [clears throat] that and the $100 bill that's in there. >> So, $100 bill from what's the rubber bands around >> in that >> in that roll there. Okay. All right. Now, when you left McDonald's, well, let me let's let's go back. >> When I left McDonald's, >> now hold on. While you're at McDonald's, where did you park your car? >> Where did at urgent care? >> The suspect then describes what happened after she stayed inside the restaurant until closing time. >> Okay. What [clears throat] door did you go in? >> I was already in there. And the girl, she knew I was in there. >> What girl? >> The the employee girl, she was I was in the bathroom before they closed. I went in there at 11:40. We washed the chemistry. See, I was in there like 11:48. She knew I was in there. >> Did she talk to you? >> She said, "Hey." >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> And she when I went in that came when I went in, I had my head down and my hoodie on. But she remember me cuz her used to work in the morning. >> Yeah. She did work. >> Yeah. She remember me. Me used to work in the morning. So she said, "Hey, hey." So I've been in there since 11, like 11:40, 11:50. >> So she knew I was in there. And when she looked at her manager, when I finally came out at 12:00, cuz I knew it was at 12:00, came by at 12:00, she looked at him with a smirk. She already knew I was in there. Okay. And that's when she was like, "Oh, um, you didn't lock the door." But he did lock the door. [clears throat] So, she just knew I don't know. She I don't know if she knew that I was still in the bathroom, but she knew I was there. She looked at me. She spoke to me. And then when she seen when I came all the way in, I gave I didn't give them no. I just held it. [clears throat] >> The detective [music] continues walking through what happened step by step and how the suspect gathered the [music] employees inside the office. >> I just asked all them for their phones and I told them to go in the office. >> What's the phone? Why did you take their phones? >> I didn't want them to call y'all. >> 911. Okay. >> So I I took everybody phones. one one boy here want to give it to me. I said I'm give it back to you know as soon as I leave and when we got in the office I gave and before I left I gave all their phones back [clears throat] I gave it to him. >> Did you make them walk to that office? >> I just said everybody go to the office. >> Okay. And you what did you have? Did you have the gun out? >> I had it in my like >> I had it like in my sleeve like >> Well, they said you had it like by the note. Yeah, it was like behind >> like behind it like the note was like this and I had it like this. >> Did you tell them that? What did you tell them when you got there that if everybody complies there won't be no problems or just >> I just said the manager was in the kitchen and I was like, "Okay, how it is." You walk in. I was right here. She was right there. The manager right there behind like it was like a little chef thing. He was behind that in the kitchen. So if he turned his head, he could see me. Mhm. >> And it just said, "Read the note." And then he read it and then he like walked like he walked around that little thing, but he stood right there. She was like, she was by me. She was like right there. She was by me, but not by like I'm right here. She right there. >> Okay. >> And then she end up walking in the kitchen. I said, "I don't just give me a phone and just walk out to the office." >> Okay. How many phones did you end up getting? Well, every employees, right? or in the in the job phone. >> Okay. Now, what the job phone is that did you just know that there was a work phone so you want to get it or >> Well, every job has like a little cordless phone that you can walk around with >> every job at McDonald's or Okay. >> So, I >> So, you knew that? >> Yeah. So, I said I said, "Where phone?" And he said, "Right there." And I grabbed it and everybody >> The detective continues asking about the money taken during the robbery. Here's what she says happened after she instructed the employees to hand over the cash from the registers. >> Okay. Now, you go to the office. Now, how much money did you end up getting from the safe? How did that go down? Did you have the manager open the safe or >> I told him to give me what was in the registers. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> But I don't think he gave me what was in the register because that's what I had got in $100 bill. >> And how much was in there? Did you know did you count it? >> I didn't I didn't take the thing off it. It's still on there and it just say 100. Okay. All right. So, you had all this saved up except for $100 bill. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Now, once you got the money, what did you do? >> I got when when I got it, I said, "Y'all please don't leave the office until I get out the back door." So, I gave the manager all the phones that I had >> and I left out the back door cuz that was the closest door. I left out the back door and I ran across the street to my car um in urgent care and [clears throat] I left. Okay. Where did you go? >> Um, I went to my houses, but not to my house. It's like they doing more houses all the way in the deep of our subdivision. So, I went all the way back there >> and I sat there and then I left out of there. >> Did you have clothes those clothes on under that? >> No, I had like I said, I always keep clothes in my in my car cuz I go >> Did you swap out of the construction site? Is that where you swapped clothes? >> No, I didn't go to church site today. Oh, yeah. I new houses are being built. >> Yeah. I thought she was talking about where I work at. No. >> Yeah. I swapped out when I stopped driving in the in the deep end of those houses. >> Okay. Did you get rid of anything that had to do with McDonald's at the construction site or anything? Or was everything in your car? >> Everything in my car. >> Okay. All right. Now, you getting along with your girl good. Are y'all having like rough times as well? Is she coming back or no? >> He then asks whether she committed the robbery because she was trying to save both her housing situation and a relationship. Here's [music] what she has to say. >> Okay. So, you were trying to do this to save your relationship as well, huh? >> Have you been in trouble before other than traffic? >> Yeah. No, >> that's old. Like >> no felonies or anything? >> No. Yeah. Okay. Well, this this this tonight's going to pack a punch. You know that, right? Okay. [clears throat] And the and the car is back comes back to her name. Correct. In her car. >> Yeah. >> She's booked into jail after being charged with four counts of armed kidnapping, robbery [music] with a firearm, and four counts of tampering in a firstderee felony proceeding. $20,000 vanishes after new manager [music] takes over. Police respond after Dollar Tree reports that six cash deposits have gone missing without [music] any signs of forced entry or bank processing errors. The investigation quickly centers on a newly hired store manager who had [music] recently taken over responsibility for making the deposits. >> Okay, so tell me what happened. So, um I get an email like we verify when we're in our stores our deposits, but usually our treasury department finds like a missing deposit before us. Like within a week, they'll flag on an email telling us that it hasn't been validated through the bank. So, I started to receive emails um quickly. It was like two, then it became three, it was four. Um right now I'm I have six um and it's going to be six in total. this store manager, she had just started here on July 29th. It was her first day in the store. So, like she trained with us for five weeks at another location. Um, and came here by 8:4. I'm missing my first deposit. So, >> so July 29th, she started at this location. >> Yeah. >> And then, um, you said she trained for 5 weeks at another location. >> Yeah. Um but like in the capacity of manager. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So she was like >> but was she with the company before? >> No. >> Okay. >> So she got hired in brought in as a manager and then she was training. >> Yeah. So she finished her. >> So this was like the first time being solo. >> Yes. Alone. Unattended. Right. >> Okay. Um so it's actually >> Sorry. Um, so it's actually, sorry, I'm looking at this. It's actually on 83 that I'm missing my first deposit. So it's one on 83, two on 84, one on 86, one on 87, and one on 810. 810. Okay. Um, and you have the balance. >> Yeah. So here, this is a copy for you. Um, that's like my email that's showing what bank it is. cuz I wrote down the base address, which branch they use physically. >> The responding officer speaks with [music] a store manager who explains how the missing deposits came to light and why she believes the newly assigned manager was responsible. [music] >> Um, and that would be the information for the six deposits. So quickly after like I got my first notification on Monday um of last week. By Wednesday was last week by >> what are we at? The 21st. So >> So the 12th >> the 12th. Yeah. So, that's all I knew I had an issue with a couple deposits. And by Wednesday, I came in here to the store to meet with her and my asset protection manager um came and met us as well to discuss what was going on with the deposits with her. >> So, she said she took all these deposits to the bank, that they're all going to be in the bank. She's very mildtempered, not really getting upset easily. Um, >> so that was on the 14th. On the Wednesday you came in on Wednesday. >> So you did like a little investigation and then on Wednesday you met with her. >> Yeah. >> Okay. With along with asset protection. Okay. And so you guys discussed it with her. >> Yeah. >> So she knows. >> Yes, she knows. >> Okay. So and and then I'm sorry. So then what did she say to you guys? >> She was very like she was very mildtempered. I mean she wasn't argumentative. She wasn't anything. She wasn't riled up or any. There was just very calm. And so I took them to the bank. Like I signed them out. I took them all to the bank. They're all going to be at the bank. And you know, even after he left, I continued to talk to her a little bit oneon-one. Like maybe you changed purses or bags that you brought to work. Don't you want to go check your car? Double check. Like if you were taking multiples at a time, what could slide out at a red light? Double check. And she's like, I know they're not in there. Like I took them to the bank. and she's just very confident but not really doesn't care to help or look or you know do anything. >> According to the manager, the biggest clue came when the employee was told to stop by the bank before reporting to work the [music] following morning. >> And even like the day before, because I was um across town, I sent the man at the store manager that trained her. She's right up the road. So, I sent her on Tuesday to meet with this store manager and go over the deposits. and I had her stuff at the bank, see if there was anything going on. And she was very, you know, casual with her, really not too worried about it. Um, the biggest red flag for me right away was that store manager stressed to her like, "Okay, you're coming in tomorrow, you're scheduled at 12, meaning Wednesday. Um, make sure you go to the bank before you go to your store cuz you need to resolve where your missing deposits are. They should be validated by the bank right away the next day. you need to talk to a bank manager and not a teller. Um, find out what's going on. So, she didn't know we were going to be in her store on Wednesday, but like she came walking in with a bag of McDonald's food. Didn't care. I asked her, "Hey, did you go to the bank before you came here?" >> And that was on Tuesday. >> Um, no, on Wednesday, like when I was physically in the store with her, >> but she was supposed to go there on Tuesday to >> She was supposed to go Wednesday like before she came in cuz she came in at 12:00 on Wednesday. So, she she doesn't even go to the bank at that point. So in my head I'm like, well, you don't want to go talk to the bank because you know they don't really have the deposits, right? So >> yeah, >> otherwise why not go and >> Nearly 2 months later, detectives bring the former manager in for an interview. Will she admit what happened? Let's find out. >> You ever been in one of these rooms before? >> No. >> Okay. You ever seen it on TV? >> 48. >> Yeah. >> You know you're in the good room when you're in the big room. So we're in the big room now. you're in the lobby. We appreciate you coming by to help us figure something out. >> No problem. >> Yeah. At this point, honestly, we're just trying to close it out. Um just trying to figure out what happened. Um Dollar Tree was concerned about some of their money and that's why we're we're involved. Okay. Oh, so you know what he's talking about. >> Yeah. My um >> I guess Crystal Yeah, she had told she cuz she had asked me did they came anybody reach out to me. I told her no until now. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, uh, when did you actually start working there? >> Um, thinking June for training. >> June. >> Out one story. Yeah. >> And it wasn't at that location, right? >> No. >> Okay. So, you get there at June. And then what happened? When uh when did you start working over at the the local one over here? >> Well, I did like five weeks in training. So, I probably didn't start there maybe today. Maybe end of July, I'm thinking. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, at the end of July, you start working there, >> I think. Yeah. >> And what was your like job title over there? >> A store manager. >> Nice. >> Right from the get-go. >> Training. Well, I mean [clears throat] >> that's pretty good. >> Yeah. >> I train I mean I told myself, okay, well, let me get into Dollar Tree and start, but you know, it it was different from what I was expect. Yeah. >> Yeah. Especially the store that they gave me. So, >> that's the Boon store, right? Oh, yeah. Sorry for that. That's typical Boyd. That's how we down there. And then everyone in there barely spoke English. So >> yes, that makes it difficult. >> Um, yes. So she was talking about I guess it was six different deposits. What uh what happened with those? Do you do you know which ones they are? >> Um, >> no. >> I guess like August 3rd or 4th. Two on the 4th, one. >> Detectives asked [music] the former store manager to walk them through exactly what happened with the missing deposits. Here's [music] how she responds. Do you know what happened? Did you deposit the the one she was talking about? >> Like I like I told her, I say whatever deposit they leave in the safe. I think cuz apparently the one manager Okay. Cuz to me, I'm not used to pick taking deposits and take to the bank. So this is my first time ever doing something like that. Okay. >> And then when I go to the bank, >> the teller say I have to drop it in a dropbox. Even though they're there, but I have to drop it in the dropbox. >> Okay. >> So, and there's no key or nothing. So basically just pull and drop everything in there. So the days that I'm so from between from the weekends for Friday, Friday I leave from Saturday. So their deposits there from the I guess from the mid managers the night and then Sundays I'm off. So by the time I come Monday it'll be multiple deposits in the safe. >> Okay. >> Which I heard the night manager supposed to drop. She doesn't go drop it. So basically I have to take them and go drop them in the night deposit which I truly do. Like I told Crystal, I said, "Well, I don't know." You know, y'all giving me a store one. Every I mean, most everybody don't speak English. Nobody's dropping nothing. I come my first day, there was already five bags in the safe. >> So, and then yet we have to sign. Majority of them don't sign. So, basically, I'm signing cuz I'm taking everything. Like I told, I take everything I drop in the in the in the night deposit. I don't know nothing else. This is my first time. Okay? >> You know, that's what we're just, >> you know, y'all see me. You know, if y'all see me in the camera, okay, like I told her, check the bank cameras. Like, I don't know. This is my first time. So, I don't know what was the deal, what's going on, what's missing. >> But, you know, we appreciate like I told her, you know, they could search my car. You could search, you know, I don't you know, you you came running. You said, "How can I help?" >> I'm a new person. You know, I just started this is I never had this issue. Never had this problem. I worked for City Trans for 5 years. Like, I never had issue. I've been as a store manager. I never dealt with nothing with money. I don't steal money. Why would I take your money? >> As the interview continues, [music] detectives begin comparing her explanation with the records and evidence gathered during the investigation. >> Now y'all taking the posit if they're sitting there is an issue. >> So basically I have to sign a a log which I don't know from previous people whoever whatever issue they had previous from the other managers. All I told her I just take put everything together and drop anything and that's it. >> You know I don't I don't know anything else. So they basically let me go because of my me because of my name of the log. That's pretty much it on the pie. That's what she told me. They just going to go ahead and let me go for it. >> Terminated. They >> Yeah. When she they gave me a suspension and then she finally she said they made a decision to let me go cuz I had written wrote on the log. >> Yeah. >> So here's the log that I guess we got. I know it's kind of hard to see. >> Yeah. >> So you deposited these, but you're saying you dropped them off in like a drop box outside the >> Yeah. And then and not only that, so when you go pick up the slips, >> they're not giving so so if you drop a deposit today, you go in tomorrow, they're not going to give you that slip. They're going to give you slip for deposit you to prior week prior. >> Mhm. >> So [clears throat] they're not giving you everything. Um, say if you did it, you know, for this week, they'll give you something for prior last week. >> And then if not, they're not giving you everything. So we went, I went, she went, but they were giving slips from prior. They're not giving what we needed. Then they would give you then they would give me um deposit slips from different >> people that deposit. So they'll give me the wrong slips. >> The bank does >> the bank. Yeah. Which I gave her that. She took and gave that back to the bank. So but then when I ask you know for the slips, they'll tell me well the people does not you know they have different people that work there. So neither they're not that's not in their story. They don't know. I have to wait and come back. So it was basically a couple days I going back and forth to the >> detectives begin pointing out inconsistencies in the former store manager story by comparing it to the evidence they received from the bank. >> Yeah. So I I ended up speaking with the bank as well. We ended up doing subpoenas from the bank um because they're independent. They have nothing to do with this. They'll tell us whether or not they got the money and the bank is saying they didn't get the money either. >> I don't know. I don't know. It's whatever deposit slip they had in the safe. I just grab like from which if you see if it's two signatures or whatever it is and then I put in the in in the deposit in the thing. That's it. [clears throat] >> Okay. >> Where's the Where's the deposit on that on that bank? It's the Charisa 100 North Congress, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Cuz is there Cuz with the teller and then there's a box right here. You open it and you just >> the inside of the bank? >> No, it was outside by the drive-thru. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, what if I said there was no there was no camera footage of you at the bank dropping them off? >> Would that be weird? >> It would be. I mean, it's a bank. It should have cameras. >> Mhm. >> Especially in the drive-thru. >> There was cameras. There was cameras at the store, of course, cuz they got it like focused right on the on the on the safe. M and has you taken the money like you said you did like you signed out. >> We're just trying to make it make sense. >> But in the drivethru, if you pull up and drive through the tell, they should have cameras outside so they could see what cars are in that drive-thru. >> Are you are you getting out of the car to put them in the car? >> Oh, no. I PULL UP IN NO, IN THE CAR I STAY IN THE CAR. I don't have to get out. Yeah. >> In the car that you're going is just your um the one that's I guess registered to you. Which car do you have right now? >> The white car, which is my husband's car. >> Okay. >> Which car did you have in August when when this happened? >> Was it the same white car? >> It's It's going to be either the white Yeah, white car or then there's a um red vehicle. Well, those are my husband's vehicle. >> All right. So, they'd be under your Which is your vehicle? It's your husband's vehicle. Is that his >> They then ask about the vehicle she may have driven and explained that they'll be reviewing surveillance footage [music] from the bank for both of them. >> Okay. Um Yeah, cuz the next thing I'd want to do is reach out to the bank again and just verify that your car was there just so we can get you completely out of this. >> Yeah, I Yeah, I don't Yeah, cuz I don't get out the vehicle cuz once you pull up the thing's right there, you just open it, drop, and close and go on. >> Okay. Yeah. So that would be the next step is we ask for the camera footage again of the vehicle and then we should see your vehicle doing the drop boxes on those days around the time that you put Ray. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Do you uh What kind of car is it? >> It's a white Equinox. >> So they can narrow it down. It doesn't take forever. White Equinox. And then there's another one. A red one, right? >> Yeah, it's a um Genesis red. What's your husband's name? So I can look up the car. What's his date? >> Okay. >> So at no point did you take it for like your own personal game? Nothing like that, right? No. Okay. If you I mean you take [laughter] my background I don't have any history criminal history of me doing anything. I mean well parking speeding tickets that I mean that's everybody you know that's everybody. But when it comes to theft what that's not me I don't Yeah. That's why this right here was very shocking to me. Okay. >> To me I'm like I don't take anything. I don't you know and then because I was training at the other store they even I even took deposits there and drop at the store when I was at training. and nothing was missing. So to me, this is Yeah. >> So what do you think happened here? >> I have I don't know. I have no clue. I don't know. For one manager, she was telling me, you know, it's just like letting me know. Just be careful in this store. That's pretty much it. >> As the interview goes on, detectives continue building rapport while slowly increasing the pressure in hopes that she'll tell them what happened to the missing deposits. >> Like man, I don't know why the store managers didn't lost in that store. I don't know. I I'm just new to Dollar Tree and I never had issues like this. Never had problem like this with money. >> Well, the before we go talk to anybody, of course, we look up, are we dealing with a good guy or a bad guy? Of course, we looked up your history. You're you're a good guy. You came running to come in here to say, "Hey, I'm coming to talk to you guys. My day's busy, but I want to make time for you." >> Yeah, cuz I'm >> You could leave at any time, but you're making a a statement trying to help us figure this for a better word crazy situation. I mean the same thing I sat down with with Crystal, you know, with loss of prevention. I was in there with, you know, >> and Crystal had nothing but good to say about you, but she said, "We can't figure this out either." >> I can't listen. Like I told her, I said, "I don't know." I told her, "She could search my vehicle." She like, look, she like, "Did any bag fell under the car?" I I walked out, we looked, checking my vehicle. I'm like, I DON'T HAVE NOTHING. I COME TO I GOT I DON'T TAKE NOTHING. I don't you know. >> And who who do you primarily bank with? >> Me? I bank with Wells Fargo. Mhm. >> And then we have Bank of America with my husband. >> Okay. >> So, if we check your bank, there shouldn't be anything crazy of like these amounts going into your bank, right? >> For my account, no, pretty much. Um, >> I'm saying just like if we check the if we check the banks, we're not going to see deposits of like these amounts into your bank account, right? >> Oh, the total amount of those. Oh, no. Detectives shift their approach and [music] encourage her to tell the truth, suggesting this may have been a one-time mistake rather than part of a pattern. >> Bank is saying that the money didn't arrive. Um, >> the bank hasn't reported any thefts or anything from their dropbox. Nothing suspicious. >> We have you on camera taking the money out and then the money disappears. >> In the scheme of things, you have no criminal history. You come in here to say, "Let's go figure this out." >> We're not trying to jam you up. Mhm. >> So if somehow maybe we can make this right with Crystal and she goes, "Okay, we made this right. I don't want to get her a charge. I don't want to mess her up like that. She's good people." >> Oh, yeah. I definitely don't want to mess up my >> Right. >> Cuz you go to apply for another job and then you have a theft charge on you, a felony theft charge, >> and it's probably going to be two felonies with a scheme of defraud and a grand theft. They're going to look at that cuz they're going to do a background check like they all do. Like you work at McDonald's as a fry guy, they go, "Do you ever have been convicted of felony?" They do a background check, which is easy. Just doing it on your >> Yeah. I'm not trying to tarnish my back. >> Yeah. >> So, if this was a mistake, we all make mistakes. >> They They got a messed up system. I would get nervous even carrying that money to tell you the truth. >> I don't This is my first time. I don't know why they even do that. Like, they're better off just having like come pick up the money instead of having on the safe. >> Yeah. And then they dealing with different type of banks. Each store have a bank. To me, that don't make no sense. But >> they they they put you in a situation basically that that you weren't looking for. >> No. >> And you made a mistake and mistakes happen. >> So you made a mistake in this situation and maybe we can make it right with Crystal. I mean at the end of the day is you know as being store I mean >> well ability I you know >> brainstorm with me. So they put you in this situation they should have bricks come by. If they have $5,000 >> it cost them $100 to get bricks to go pick it up and then you're not out there with money. You're not out there driving your car by yourself >> potentially going to get robbed or whatever. So they're putting people in this situation. They reassure her that he doesn't see her as a career criminal, [music] but as someone who may have made a poor decision. >> Yeah. >> And they're putting thousands of dollars in people's hands, which is a lot of money >> in the scheme of things. A lot of not a lot of money to them, but it's a lot of money to me and you. >> Yeah. >> Um, so they're they're they're setting themselves up for failure. You're a good person. >> You made a mistake. >> Is there a way we can get this money back to Crystal? I don't know. I mean, I barely have anything. I don't know if they want me to do a payment plan or something to give him something that lost. I have no idea. >> What happened to all the money? What did you guys spend it on? >> I don't have any. I don't spend >> You had it and then you spent it. What did we spend it on? Where did it go? Why can't we get it back to Crystal? >> Did you end up paying bills with her? >> But she Yeah, that this ain't $5. That's There's no way I took that type of money. Okay. Then how much did you take? >> There's no way I could even bother taking. >> So the amount in total is the is the 5,000. That's that's where we're at right now. >> So how much how much did you take? It was less than that. Are they they padding the numbers here a little bit? >> Probably. >> Yeah, that sounds about right. That sounds about what they do. >> So that's a lot more than what you had. No, I mean you can check my account and buy this my account. >> Yeah, of course. >> So, they're patting the numbers a little bit. They're they're a mess to begin with. So, maybe it's like 3,000. Maybe that's the payment plan we need to get on. >> Not even. >> But how much was it? >> The 393, 347, 782. All right. >> They continue asking her to explain exactly what happened, hoping she'll give a clear account of the missing money. >> So, just why don't you just take us back to the beginning of how how did this even happen? When you take the deposits out of the safe, where did you end up going with the bags? >> The bank. >> You went to the bank or you took them to your bank? >> No. No. I don't think No, not to my bank. No. Do you take the money out and throw the bags in or what? >> And if they're trying to play games and add extra money on there, we need to know about that as well. >> Well, I'm not Yeah, [snorts] I'm not missing on 19 12 13 14 19. What's the third? >> So, Nean, we can we can work with we can work with the dollar tree and discuss that with them. If you think it's more than what it was, we can always talk to them about it. >> No, it's not. No, I didn't take I didn't take I don't This is not more what it was. I mean, they say this is what they're missing, but >> I think that's like a crazy amount like super. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, let's just take it back to the beginning, right? So, you get the deposit bags from the safe. They have that on camera that you're taking, which is fine. Yeah. What would you end up doing? Are you behind the bills? Did you try to help out with your bills? >> What' you end up doing with the the money that you took? We're just trying to make make sense of it at this point, you know? >> Okay. >> Cuz at the end of the day, I'm not a bad person. >> No. And like I told you, you're criminal. There's nothing. >> You're clean. Yes. Um, >> everybody makes mistakes. We've all been there. >> Yeah, we do. >> I'm not perfect. >> We do all do perfect. So, we all do do mistakes. So, what is Crystal willing to do? >> Detectives once again ask if the missing money was used to pay bills or other personal expenses, encouraging her to be truthful and reminding her that everyone makes mistakes. >> We'll have to talk to her. I'll have to give her a call and um try to discuss it with her. Um, but right now I just need >> But I'm not But the thing But yeah, for all that I'm not taking responsible for all that. That's Yeah, I'm not that crazy of >> No. And And like I said, I'm not saying if you think it's a different amount, that's fine. We can discuss that. But right now, we just need to know what actually happened. So, you take the bags. Did Did you end up depositing them? Did you end up paying your apartment or did you pay for any of your kids stuff? Um, >> I get behind on my bills all the time working here. I have to figure out ways to handle it, you know. >> I was behind one time on my rent. That's pretty much it. >> And this was one of those like, "Hey, this might help me out just to make it through, right, >> bitch." Pretty much it. >> Which What your husband do for a living? >> He doesn't escaping. >> Okay. He has no idea what happened. Okay. >> No, he doesn't speak English. >> So, you get the deposit bags from the safe. You leave uh what? Dollar Tree. >> Mhm. >> Where do you go with the bags? With these bags that are missing, did you go home with them? >> No. >> Okay. What did you do with them? >> I might have taken out from in from that car heading to the bank. >> You did what? I'm sorry. >> I might have taken out out the bag before heading to the bank. >> Okay. Yeah. like you took the money out of the bag. >> She later admits that some of the stolen money went toward a money [music] order to pay her apartment rent. She also agrees to write an apology letter to the company. >> Would you want to write an apology letter to Dollar Tree where we could deliver it to them? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Crystal didn't have anything bad to say about you. >> She's very nice. She's just trying to get it figured out cuz you know that she's going to be responsible for what's going on too. But >> she's just wring right now. You take the money out of the bag. You go to the Walmart off military, the neighborhood Walmart and get a money order and then you paid your apartment, your rent with it. Yeah. >> Okay. Do you still have all the money bags and everything? >> No. >> Okay. What' you do with the money bags? >> Okay. >> They got more. Don't worry. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, the um raise your right hand for me. Do you swear the firm statement is the truth? >> Yes. >> Okay. You can put your hand there. All right. So, the next step would be uh we would take you into custody for theft right now. Okay. >> That's perfect. We'll get this paperwork done as quick as we can to get you uh turn your hand. >> You're a normal person. This is not a normal situation. That's why we're just explaining everything to you. Okay. >> Just like this. It makes it easier. >> Okay. And I got your purse. I'm going to walk up with you. Um, so think about it. We need to call. We need to probably call work. We need to call husband to do he spare keys for the car. You want to leave the car here? >> He doesn't know. I have the key. You go back. >> After wrapping up the interview, detectives complete the [music] necessary paperwork and place her under arrest. >> I mean, you could also take the key with you and just come back here and pick it up. It's only properly parked. I'm not going to do anything. >> Okay. >> It's 24/7 that parking lot >> as long as you didn't like take up four spaces, which has happened. So, we're just going to go up these stairs here and we're going up to our office, which is the detective bureau. And there's a room so you're not sitting in a cell. And we'll just do the paperwork real quick. Grab her arm. I >> appreciate you watching. >> Thank you. >> Oh, you want to take these for uh steel? >> Shred them. He added that charge, so a new set. >> You got everything you need? >> I think so. Yeah. >> Okay. In the end, she's charged with grand theft and fraud involving property valued under $20,000. And that's what happens when greed costs more than the paycheck. Which case surprised you the most? Let us know down below.