SHAMOKIN - A city man is accused of bilking his former employer of $5,800.
Police charged Stephen Smith, 35, of 249 S. Franklin St., with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property after he allegedly kept the proceeds from more than $5,800 in sales at Puff's Discount Tobacco Store, Pearl Street, between February and July.
Shamokin City Police Patrolman William Zalinski said in court documents Kenneth Regel, president of Puff's, reported an employee theft Oct. 11.
Regel told police he suspected Smith was stealing cash since June, and reviewed the transactions and surveillance footage for six months.
Regel told police Smith would wait on a customer and ring up a sale in the register, but would then immediately void the sale.
According to Regel, the practice gave an inaccurate sales account at the end of the shift, allowing an employee to pocket the cash from all the voided transactions.
Regal said he determined how much was stolen during his review of receipts and video footage.
Zalinski interviewed Smith, who said he was aware of the accusations when Regel confronted and fired him in July.
According to police, Smith said he voided the transactions and keep the cash from February through July.
The charges were filed Monday with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7 before Gembic.