Cashiers accused of theft at Pick ’n Save

By John Dobberstein
Journal Times

Sunday, November 30, 2008 7:20 PM CST

RACINE — Racine police say two cashiers at a Pick ’n Save grocery store have admitted to letting family and friends walk out with as much as $35,000 in store items over the past several months without paying.

The women, both from Racine, were arrested separately on Tuesday and Wednesday for suspicion of theft after a corporate security officer became suspicious of cash drawer shortages involving the two employees at the Pick ’n Save at 2210 Rapids Drive.

According to police reports, a Racine police officer was reviewing video of an unrelated incident at the store Tuesday afternoon when a security officer approached and said he had a 27-year-old cashier, Deborah A. Sanchez, detained on suspicion of theft.

The security officer said Sanchez gave him a written statement admitting that she was “giving away” merchandise and that her friends, or friends of another cashier were the benefactors. Police said she estimated the amount to be $10,000 to $15,000.

While reviewing surveillance videos, Racine police said they observed Sanchez passing items along without scanning them. Sanchez told police that nobody forced her to give away groceries and that she was “just stupid,” according to police reports.

Sanchez also told Racine police that another cashier was involved.

The second cashier, a 24-year-old woman, was confronted by the security officer on Wednesday about possible theft and she admitted to passing $25,000 to $30,000 in merchandise to family members and friends since May, Racine police said.

The newspaper is not releasing her name because she has not been formally charged yet.

Store officials confirmed the range of value for the thefts after checking the woman’s cash drawer transactions for the past several months, Racine police said.

In many cases the woman would, according to Racine police, scan some items but void out the grocery sales. She told police that she knew the transactions were wrong, but continued to do it until she got caught, according to police reports.

Sanchez faces a preliminary hearing in court Dec. 10 on a single charge of theft of movable property.

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