A cashier at Lowe’s was arrested after allegedly stealing money from her register while on the job.
An officer responded to a theft complaint at Lowe’s at Trailwinds Village at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. Upon arrival, he met with the asset protection manager who gave a detailed account of the incidents involving an employee identified as 51-year-old Shenair Yvette Stevens of Wildwood.
The manager stated the initial discovery of theft happened on April 26 during an investigation into a cash shortage on register 19. Stevens had been seen receiving a $50 bill from a customer but did not put it in the register. Instead, she staged the bill on the left side of the register and completed the transaction, the report said.
After the customer left, Stevens took the bill, wrapped it in a receipt and put it in her work vest pocket. To offset the shortage, she completed a return invoice for $10.70, causing an inventory shortage and prompting further investigation, the report said.
On March 8, Stevens applied unauthorized discounts totaling $12.79 to two items for herself, the report said.
On March 22, Stevens conducted a fraudulent cash return for $52.08 when no customer or product was present. She placed the money with some papers underneath the register and removed it about 10 minutes later, concealing it within the papers and placing it on a shelf behind the register. About two hours later, she was seen putting the papers with the money in a grey shopping bag and leaving the store. This fraudulent return caused an inventory shortage, resulting in a loss of $100.75, the report said.
On April 22, a customer completed a cash invoice and provided a $50 to complete the transaction. Instead of placing the bill in the register, Stevens staged the bill on the side of the register. About 10 minutes later, she completed a cash and product theft with an invoice totaling $24.42, the report said.
Stevens received $33 but placed no money inside the register for the transaction. She took the $8.58 in change and the original $50 bill, putting them on top of the register. About five minutes later, she placed the money in the left pocket of her work vest, the report said.
To offset the shortage, Stevens completed a return invoice with no product present, causing an inventory shortage of 12 units. During the return invoice, when the till drawer opened, she immediately closed the drawer, the report said.
About 50 minutes later, Stevens selected two items, scanned them, received a previous sale from the day and printed out a duplicate receipt. She did not complete a sales transaction for the items. She placed them into a cart and attached the duplicate receipt. About 17 minutes later, she left the store through the garden center, resulting in a total loss of $186.72, the report said.
On May 3, Stevens completed an unauthorized discount sale for an item. Immediately after, she completed a fraudulent refund and self-rang the refund to a merchandise card using her own driver’s license. The total amount of the refund was $26.73, including $1.75 in sales tax. This also caused an inventory shortage and resulted in a total loss of $70.05, the report said.
On May 7, a customer completed a cash invoice. When the drawer opened, Stevens discovered two $100 bills in the rolled coins bin that were left by another cashier. She removed the bills, putting one under the till and the other on the side of the register, the report said.
Stevens then completed the transaction with the customer and closed the register. About three minutes later, she removed the $100 bill from the side of the register by concealing it in a crumpled paper towel. She circled the register where she placed the bill into her work vest before throwing the paper towel away. That same evening, Stevens completed an unauthorized discount sale for three items for a total loss of $137.56, the report said.
The shortage of the register was discovered May 8. However, Stevens completed an unauthorized discount sale for one item with a total loss of $8.12 the same day, the report said.
The total loss was calculated by Lowe’s for each incident and came to $573.99. Stevens was subsequently read her rights and agreed to speak with law enforcement about the incident. She stated she had taken about $300 from the store using different methods such as changing the prices of items throughout her employment with the store, the report said.
Stevens was arrested on charge of larceny (petit theft) and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center. She was released after posting $150 bond.