The 27th of October 2025, officers responded to a report of major theft at an optician's clinic where an employee was suspected of taking cash and high-value merchandise. Physical evidence pointed toward an inside job and the investigation ended in a felony burglary arrest. >> Yes, it's going on. Officer Harper, Lake Worth Police Department. >> What's going on? Okay. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> It's me. >> It's me. >> All right. >> What we got going on? >> Um so when we came in and opened this morning, my employee realized the door was unlocked. >> Okay. >> The alarm code was not set, so it wasn't beeping like it normally is. And then when she turned on lights and things and proceeded, she saw things were kind of disarray. >> Okay. >> Um >> What exactly was disarray? >> So this display here all of this front-facing part was like all disheveled. I have pictures of it. And then as you can see, there's holes in here. This is always very full, so we know about theft or not. So these missing holes are all missing. >> Okay. >> And then um our cash drawer has a key that's in our front desk area. All of the drawers were opened to find the said key. >> Okay. >> Key is gone, but this the cash drawer is still here. >> Okay. Do you guys have any cameras inside? >> We do, but they unplugged it. >> Okay. >> And we don't have access to the actual footage. Like there's a code that you have to put in. And so when I got put on as a manager, the manager before me was fired, so I didn't learn any of that stuff. >> Okay. Okay. Um do you have an itemized list like how much was taken roughly? >> couldn't So when I talked to the first dispatcher, they said not to touch anything, so I couldn't do inventory, but I did run the inventory. We just haven't actually cross-referenced what it is that's missing. >> Okay. >> And obviously he's not touching stuff because we don't think anything over here was taken. But he was just helping a patient, so >> Okay. >> So I don't actually know what's taken from up here. Stop what you're doing. >> [clears throat] >> Put it at your desk or whatever with it. >> Okay. >> So >> Okay. Um yeah. >> This is already one thing that I always keep full because this is an easy way for me to see if somebody was taken if the drawer was here. >> Okay. >> Um but let me see. I'll show you that. So the main thing now is we can't open the store because I don't actually know if I have cash in my cash drawer. Or if they've taken it. >> You saw an object? >> We don't have the key. >> the key. >> So I'd have to literally break it in order to see. And so this is how they were. >> cash drawer at? >> It's in my office. >> I forgot that cash drawer, but where the key is located? >> Here, right here. And I was told for you guys to have to do fingerprinting if you need to or what have you. But this is what it looks like and this is supposed to be how it is now. So this is Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> And then like she walked past and this was a like we have to be very tidy so we know things are what have you. >> Right. >> But this is how the drawers were when she got here. >> Okay. >> Like opened like this. >> So besides this main area, nothing back there has been touched that you know of? >> other rooms are fine. Just this front area. It's not like it's right here. It's in >> This area right here. Sorry, do you mind if I come back and have a little look and stuff like that? >> This is a contact one there. Nothing was taken from there. No, it's literally in my office. Nothing was touched other than the camera, which is still unplugged and this is where it's unplugged here. So this is the cash drawer where we were going to >> Have you tried plugging it back in? >> No, I didn't know where it went to be honest. >> That, no. Damn it. Okay. Let me have a look cuz I think it You might be able to see if it captured stuff. Aha. When? >> [snorts] >> Yeah. >> And then what kind of key is this? >> It's It's literally just a small bolt key. It's very very small. >> You don't have the combo? >> It's not in the safe. It's the other room. >> Oh, got you. This one? >> Yeah. See, the one you can see I never anything in that one. >> [snorts] >> So, you got here at actually Why don't we just step inside this room real quick? Have a seat. >> You need this room? >> Uh no, we're just going to sit in here. What is that? >> I No, this is like what they call the >> Okay. Yeah, yeah, just have a seat. All right, so you got here at 8:20 4:00 8:25? [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Okay. What was the first thing that kind of made your made you realize that something was wrong? >> It was odd that the door wasn't locked. >> Okay. >> That was the oddest. But when I came in and I saw the stuff moved, I'm like, "Maybe they just forgot to lock it." You know? And that's I just went in And but then that's when I realized too that the alarm wasn't going off. >> Got you. >> So, I'm like, "Okay." >> Do you normally open up in the mornings? >> I'm the first Yeah, first person in the >> Okay. And so, you always end up punching in the alarm code. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. And you have your own code separate from everybody else? >> Yeah, I was given mine years ago. And everyone else has the same one. It was with a different manager when I was hired. >> Got you. >> She's like, "Put in your own code." And then, yeah. >> So, what's what's protocol for you guys if you notice something's wrong? Like, what are what you know, what's the company policy as far as what you're supposed to do? >> Well, talking to Katie this morning, she said if I notice that obviously the door's unlocked and the alarm's not open if I don't know uh someone's here just immediately do not go in and call the cops. >> So you know kind of myself looking at it it it does look like it was an inside job. >> Mhm. >> You know so it just brings up you know some awareness on my part and wanting to do my due diligence and talk to everybody about it. >> Yeah. >> But you don't think that's a possibility? Am I am I off base here? >> I don't think I don't think that it was an inside job. I don't think >> Okay. >> So are you aware that with security companies they keep logs of all the codes that are used? Okay. If we pull a log from the company are we going to see your code being used between Friday and today? >> I don't know. >> Okay. All right. Well thank you. Appreciate it. >> No problem. >> That's us. >> Can we come in? >> Can we come in or can you can step out and talk to us for a sec? >> Hang on one second. >> We just got some questions and some other stuff to go through. Why don't we just head down here cuz it's kind of cramped. I'm kind of claustrophobic. Sorry. >> Hey guys what's going on right now? >> Yes ma'am you are under arrest. Okay. Just go ahead and put your hands behind your back. >> Can I can I call my mom first? >> We'll we'll >> get my phone in there? >> We'll get some stuff in a second. So you are under arrest for burg two which is a felony. Okay? Okay. So you you obviously know why we're here right? Okay. So we had the footage. Okay. We talked to the manager. She said that during your exit interview you admitted to taking the cash and stuff like that. So yeah we appreciate you being cooperative and talking to us and telling us the truth. That is something that will go in my report and it does go a long way. Like when I write reports and stuff if people lie to me I include that in there. I don't appreciate it and the prosecutor doesn't appreciate it, but because you told us the truth, you've been forthright with us, admitting to everything, and that will go in my report as well. >> So, you know, prior to seeing the video footage, we were pretty confident it was you. >> I know. >> And there was a couple of things that were a dead giveaway. You could probably tell by the conversation that we were having. >> Yeah. >> Um you know, I asked everybody in the office, I was like, "Hey, do you think this could be an inside job?" And everybody's like, "Yeah, probably." And then when I asked you that same question, you were like, "Oh, flat out, no." Right? That's kind of tells me two things. One, right? >> Right. >> Normally, people when they answer those types of questions, right? The innocent person goes, "Yeah, that's a possibility." But the guilty person who's trying to shift blame will say, "Yeah, no, it that can't It's not a possibility." Trying to throw us off potential descent, right? And two, the way you phrased it was, you know, "No, I don't think any of those women." Right? Cuz you didn't mention yourself, but you mentioned them, right? Which means, "Hey, I think you're a decent person and you're not wanting to get any of your coworkers in trouble." >> Mhm. >> Right? Which shows some character on your part. So does coming in confessing up and and coming to clean. And so I think at the end of the day, you are probably feeling some guilt around this situation, right? And the worst thing you can do is hold on to that, so it's good that you were able to unburden yourself of that. >> The felony burglary charge itself deserves scrutiny. Burglary typically requires unlawful entry or remaining without authorization. An employee using her own key and code was authorized to be there to conduct Many jurisdictions would instead charge as larceny or embezzlement. On balance, the officer's investigation was methodical, though the missing Miranda warnings leave a real gap. The subject's calm compliance during arrest was smart. Admitting theft to her employer without counsel was the costlier mistake. This case illustrates an important principle, and statements to an employer carry the same real-world consequences as a statements to police, even though only the latter triggers Miranda protections. Anyone facing a workplace investigation into suspected criminal conduct should treat that conversation with the same caution as a police interview. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you'd like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching and don't forget to subscribe for more legal analysis of police interactions.