By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
An employee of a local business was able to steal about $100,000 from her employer over the course of a year, Brewton police said.
Mary Beth Shell was arrested last week on charges of first-degree theft of property from Special Touch Restoration on South Boulevard.
Store owners told police they began receiving calls from local banks about theft by checks. After researching the check stubs and communicating with bank officials, the owners determined Shell had taken funds in excess of $100,000 over 12 months from January to December 2009, police said.
Investigators interviewed Shell Tuesday at work, and police said she confessed to writing herself checks from the business’ account. Several of the checks were in the $1,000 range, police said.
Nicholson said the investigation is continuing.
Shell was released from the Escambia County Correctional Facility on $20,000 bond.