An employee is accused of stealing over $60,000 from a local bingo hall over a six-month period, according to St. Lucie County sheriff’s officials.
Amber Nicole Brunt, 38, of Fort Pierce was arrested June 4 on two grand theft charges — grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000 and grand theft between $750 and $5,000, according to sheriff’s officials via news release.
The theft investigation began June 3 when deputies went to Happy Days Bingo at 8441 S. U.S. 1, near Port St. Lucie, after a representative of the business reported an employee, identified as Brunt, had been taking cash from the business during her work shifts, according to the news release.
During an internal review, management identified about $9,200 in documented thefts spanning 10 of Brunt’s shifts, according to sheriff’s officials.
Further examination of financial records, documented cash shortages and other evidence showed an estimated loss of about $60,000 over a six-month period, sheriff’s officials said.
Detectives reviewed surveillance video and saw Brunt pocketing money, sheriff’s Capt. Andrew Bolonka told TCPalm on June 5.
As detectives were on their way to the bingo hall to arrest her on the first charge of grant theft, Bolonka said, they got a call from the owner who claimed to see her pocket $780 in the first seven minutes of her shift — leading to the second charge of grand theft.
Detectives took Brunt into custody June 4, and she was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, where she remained June 5 with a $155,000 bail.
(This story had been updated with more information.)
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Employee accused of stealing over $60K from bingo hall in Florida
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
