An 18-year-old Lowes employee was arrested Monday after being observed multiple times on video stealing cash from the register.
Tyler Patrick Stephens, of 26023 Meadow Breeze Lane, was charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing a total of $823 on four separate occasions between May 1 and 9 at the home improvement superstore, located at 9549 U.S. Hwy. 441 in Leesburg.
An employee at the store told a Leesburg police officer that management received an email from the location’s cash office on May 5 saying register #58 was missing $94.69 from May 1. After reviewing the store’s surveillance video and electronic journals, management determined that Stephens was the cashier at the time. Stephens was also seen removing cash from the register during transactions with customers throughout the day, according to the police report.
On May 7, another email from the cash office reported that $200 was missing from register #58. Again, Stephens was seen on video removing cash during transactions. The store employee who reported the thefts said Stephens did it again on May 7, taking $278.25 from register #40, the report said.
Police were called on Monday after Stephens was seen on videotape that day removing $250 from the register during cash transactions. Stephens was immediately taken off the register, and he admitted to the store manager that he had been stealing. The stolen $250 was recovered at the scene, according to the report.
Stephens was arrested without incident and taken to the Leesburg Police Department for booking. He was released from the Lake County Jail early Tuesday on $2,000 bond and is set to appear in Lake County Court on June 6.
