On January 9th, 2025, officers were called to a Dollar General after reports of a strange theft. An employee had been collecting discarded receipts, scanning them for fake refunds, and funneling the money into his own bank account. As police spoke with the manager, they discovered the suspect was still inside, completely unaware his scheme was about to come crashing down. [Music] >> What's up? >> How are you? Is it cold out here? >> Yeah, it's a little chilly. >> Is there a Heather here? >> Yeah. >> Are you Are you cold? Yeah. >> So, what's going on? >> They're in the office. >> Huh? >> They're in my office. My boss is >> taking care of it, huh? >> Uhhuh. >> So, what's what happened? >> He was taking the receipts and scanning them and refunding them to his own card. >> Him? >> Mhm. >> What's his name? >> Katie. to he >> Mhm. >> and he works here. >> Mhm. >> He's my assistant manager. >> Are you the manager? >> I'm the store manager. >> You're the You're the boss. And but that's the corporate or something or >> my my district manager is in the office. >> District manager. >> So my boss. >> So he buys products. >> Say other people buying products. if they don't want the receipt, he's calling them up, throwing them away, but then taking them and scanning them and refunding them, putting it back on his debit card. So, he's like, >> how long has he been doing that? >> Going to say about half a month now. 18, 19, 20 days now. >> So, what is the district supervisor plan on doing? >> Price charges cuz it's like over $2,500. >> Okay. >> And she's got it. She's even got it on flash drives, >> right? >> Hi. >> Hi. >> An employee who has done fraudulent refunds in the amount of $2655 >> and was aware of it. >> Mhm. He's just written a statement. I have my LP partner on the live on video. I have a statement. I have all the documentation and video >> and admitted to it. >> Mhm. >> When I'm arrested. >> Huh? >> When I'm arrested. >> So, you guys press charges. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Okay. Let me just make a quick phone call. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, they have an employee in here that's already written a statement confessed to uh over $2,600 of fraudulent returns and they they want to press charges. So, Dollar General right here on Cleveland and in Duncan. So, um, I guess what he does, people people buy something, if they don't want their receipt, he crumbles it up and then he scans it as if it was a return and puts the money on his card. Are you going to do it? >> Yeah, I'm getting another deputy here. >> Okay. Can you please come in so I can't We can go. >> Absolutely. I have um >> Hello, >> sheriff's department here. >> He's got another deputy on the way. >> Okay. >> How you doing, Jim? How are you? >> Hey, how are you? >> I'm good. I'm the loss prevention manager for Dollar General. I live up here in Tampa. I covered 230 stories here. So, >> God bless you. >> All right. >> Yeah. >> You guys are busy. I know that. So, I appreciate appreciate you guys coming out. Um, so basically what we have is we have some positive refunds that KD has completed here. I've interviewed him. He's admitted to it. He wrote a statement. >> I I I can honor that. >> Okay. So, u >> Yeah. And I I'll do a quick interview with him and we'll we'll go over some of the reasons and stuff like that. Okay. And um Dollar Dollar General wishes to press charges. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. Um you have your ID on you? >> Am I going to be arrested? >> I'm going to go through the motions. Okay. All right. >> Yeah. >> What I'll do is I'll ask you some questions. Okay. We'll go through the motions. Are you living on Lime Drive? >> No, not anymore. >> Where you live at now? >> I live literally right behind here. >> Do you know an address? >> Yeah. >> Okay, cool. [Music] How old are you, man? I'm >> about to turn 23. >> 23. Youngest. Okay. >> You know why we're here. >> Yes, sir. >> I know why we're here. You already gave a statement which I I think is that part of what happened is commendable. >> Okay. >> I'm not going to lie to >> No. Well, you can't you're otherwise you p yourself and you catch it more. >> I mean, there's cameras. There's >> right. So tell me what you did and what and tell me why. Like what's the reasoning? >> Um I refunded transactions and put them on my card that of stuff that I didn't buy from other customers and obviously they didn't return. Um and I did it because I was just struggling financially and I just I made a dumb stupid decision and if I could take it back I would. Right. >> How long you've been working here? >> Six months. >> Six months. Do you like your job? Not really. >> That's okay to be honest. >> Not really. No. >> All right. So, how did you come up with that idea? >> Um, >> cuz that's that's pretty sneaky. >> I saw it on Reddit and decided to try it for myself. >> So, run me through a scenario. Somebody comes up and they buy >> they buy like bleach or anything that's not food or alcohol. >> Food. Nothing food or alcohol. Okay. And then they they buy it. So they buy with cash or card or >> what? >> Card and you scan the receipt and refund it and I put it back on my >> What if they take that receipt with them? We can't. >> So you keep the receipt. >> Yeah. >> And then at a later date or the same day or >> Yeah. A later date usually. Yeah. >> You what do you do? You scan it and like like they're bringing those items back. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. And then you put it on >> and put it on my card. >> Uh what kind of card do you put it on? >> Uh bank account, Chime card. Just a regular debit card. >> May I see it? >> Yes, sir. >> Does this have is it this exact one? >> Yes, sir. >> Or do you use multiple? >> Um, that's the that's the one that I use. I didn't use any other card. >> Okay. >> You use cash, too? >> Yes, there was there was cash, too. >> So, you said you do this when they pay with a card. >> Well, uh, 99% of the time it was with a card. It was a couple times I did it with cash, too. >> Okay. So, how many times have you done this? >> Uh, too many times to keep count. >> All right. Do you have a dollar amount? >> $2,655. >> $2,655. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> From this, did you do it at any other stores? >> No, sir. >> Just here. >> Just here. >> All right. Do you have a time frame of the dates that you did it? Um, >> was it >> maybe started sometime in November. >> November to through what? January. >> Uh, yeah. >> Did you do it this year? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And you wrote a a statement? Yeah. >> Your statement? All right. This is your statement? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Is this my copy? >> I have all your stuff in the envelope. You can have that copy, too. >> Okay. Would you mind reading that to me? >> Yes, sir. I, Katie Horner, am writing this statement with my own free will. I refunded over two 2,600 to my own card. If given the opportunity, I am willing to pay back the full amount of money that I cost the company. I was struggling financially and made the wrong decision to steal from the company. I will pay back the 2,600 that I lost the company if given the chance. The sincerest apologies keep. >> Okay. And I commend you for that. Like I said, that action that you took is commendable. You know, I mean, you're you're you're taking responsibility for inappropriate actions, right? So, >> the store manager called, we have the district manager, and right here is the LP boss of bosses. Okay. They do want to press charges, sir. >> All right. Have you ever been arrested for theft before? >> No, sir. >> Do you have any kind of criminal history? >> No, sir. >> Nothing? >> No. >> Okay. So, that being said, um, is there anything you want to add, change, or Listen, you're getting fidgety. You've been fine this whole time. Have I been transparent with you? >> Yes, sir. >> Have I explained the whole process? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Relax. Breathe. >> All right. Is there anything you want to add, change, or delete from what you told me? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Well, this concludes your statement. It's 9:34 a.m. January 9th, 2025. Okay, >> so >> you know the drill and get arrested. >> Well, they want to press charges. Okay, >> so you sat down and talked to me. All right, come here. >> Breathe. >> You can just go ahead and send it to him. >> Put your hands here and then I'm going to >> You have to handcuff me. >> I have to. >> Yes, sir. >> Can you put them in front of me? Does it have to be It's policy procedure that we have to do it this way. I'm going to be searching you. >> There's headphones and my phone in this pocket. >> Okay. >> Anything in your pockets that are going to stick me? >> No, sir. >> Poke me? Cut me? >> No, sir. >> Any kind of narcotics? Anything like that? >> No, sir. >> Okay. And your vape is here? >> No, that's my headphones, my vape. >> Okay. >> I'm going to take all this with me. All right. >> This is going to be a felony charge. >> Okay. >> Because of the amount of money. >> Yeah. >> All right. 2,600 and change. Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, can you just hold on to him? I'm gonna grab his belongings. >> Absolutely. >> Yep. Good timing. [Music] >> You want to touch him again or >> uh I did a >> Okay, have a seat. Can I show the detail on the truck expiring 924 2024 registered owner subject is going to be 09 line to