A Kmart employee accused of stealing $12,000 worth of jewelry from the store said she did it to help pay her mortgage, Gwinnett County police said.
Stephanie J. Blair, 26, of Sugar Hill, worked as a sales associate at the Kmart in the 1600 block of Buford Highway in Buford, authorities said. She has been fired, Channel 2 Action News reported.
A loss prevention manager told police that he noticed jewelry was missing during an audit and, upon investigation, saw Blair allegedly pocketing two rosary necklaces on surveillance footage. Blair later returned the necklaces after being confronted, the manager said.
An additional audit showed that four rings also were missing, and again, Blair was observed on surveillance footage taking the rings out of the display case, according to a police report. Blair also returned the rings, the manager told authorities.
When questioned by police Jan. 7, Blair admitted that she stole the jewelry to help pay her mortgage, the report states. She said she knew it was wrong and she was sorry, police said.
Blair was arrested, charged with two counts of felony theft by taking and taken to Gwinnett County Jail. She has since bonded out and is awaiting her next court date, Channel 2 said.
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