K-Mart employees charged in gift card scam www.privateofficer.com

Greenwood SC Dec 28 2009 Two Greenwood K-Mart employees have been arrested for stealing between $35,000-$40,000 in a gift card scam that has reportedly been going on since August of last year.
On December 21, 2009, deputies were dispatched to the K-Mart Department store that is located on the 72 By-Pass here in Greenwood.

Their loss prevention officer, James Lindley stated that they (the store security employees) had noticed that something might be going on with the gift cards at the service desk. Security footage was being watched closely and Lindley then observed two female employees working together to put money on the cards.
One of the females, when confronted by Lindley, told him that she had taken over/approximately $35,000.00.
Terri Lynn Richey, 34, of 209 Lanham Street, Gwd and Kimberly Denise Conner, 41, of 112 Pelzer St, Gwd were both interviewed by Lindley and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Deputies. Richey stated that she was approached by Conner in August of 2008 and given the idea that they could scan UPC’s (merchandise numbers /codes) from the shelves for returns and put the money on a gift card and either use the card and keep the items or use the card and return the items for cash. Richey said that she thinks she has taken $37,000 since the scam began in August, 2008.

Conner reportedly said that on December 21, 2009 and several other days since November she has been told by Richey to go and take UPC’s from the shelves and in return been given gift cards for the amount of half of the items. Conner then stated that this started sometime last month and happens once a week every-other-week.

According to the two women, this is how they attempted to steal from the store:
According to Richey, Conner would bring her receipts and she would key them into the cash register as a refund. She said this progressed to Conners brining her merchandise or the UPC label for merchandise. Richey would then do a ‘no receipt refund’ and put the money on a gift card. Richey said she estimated the total amount of money and merchandise taken to be between $35, 000- $40,000. Richey also stated that the thefts started out at once per week, but escalated to 2 or 3 times per week in the months of November and December. When the refund was cash, it would be split between Conner and Richey. When the money was put on a gift card, each woman would get a gift card.

Conner wrote a written statement admitting the thefts started in September of 2008. She told deputies that she estimated she had gotten about $1,200.00 in cash and merchandise.

Conner and Richey were both arrested and charged with:

· Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent/Over $5,000
· Conspiracy to commit Breach of Trust.

According to Investigator Dale Boyer of the GCSO, this is an on-going investigation.

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