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On May 13th, 2025, deputies were dispatched to a Pilot Travel Center after receiving a report of an employee theft. >> Uh I The call was kind of vague. Um this has been >> I've been stealing money for a little while here. >> Okay. Um >> Right now we're a little over $6,000. >> Okay. And you have like all the receipts and everything for that or >> Well, it's all on I'll tell you when to get in there. >> Okay. >> This is what we got. On a day we've got video. >> Okay. >> Um on a daily basis um the deposit should have been $947. It was $851. This one here should have been 175, it was 76. And this is coming out of what we call the SGOs, which is our self-checkouts. Um and it goes on. So, that caused us a shortage of $201. >> Okay. >> Now, $1 I just because I could be coin, you know. So, $200 difference. So, we went to the video. Um and said, "Okay, well, what happens to $200?" Um and if you would like, you tell her from there. Or I can tell her. >> Um I had uh taken money out of the bank. >> I'm sorry, can't I You're soft-spoken and I can't hear you. >> I said I had taken money out of the bank. >> You took money out of the the >> the SGOs. >> Okay. >> Hey, come on. >> This is This is the uh detective up here. I called him um this is Detective Coates. So, she was just explaining to me they have um these are from the I'm check out. Do you mind if I just take a picture? >> No, you're you're you're fine. You're fine. >> Um these are from the self-checkouts. So, this was the total what it should have been. This is how much it was. Um same for this one here, it should have been 175, it was only 76. So, they went to the video to look to see what happened and she's on the video taking the money. I mean she just told me she took money out of the bank, so. >> Have you posted Miranda or anything like that? >> I I didn't ask. She just she just told me. >> Okay. >> Um So, I haven't I haven't done anything. >> Okay. Since 17. Hello. So, I'm Detective Coates with the Sheriff's Office, okay? Um I work all the property crimes up here. What is your name, ma'am? >> Lauren McKenzie. >> No, Norma? >> Lauren. >> Lauren McKenzie. >> McKenzie. Is that correct? >> McKenzie. >> McKenzie. >> McKenzie. >> You guys want to step out for a second? I'll just I'll talk with her real quick. >> Unless >> Just so you know, this is each day and that's the total. >> Mhm. >> Um we do not have all of it on video, but uh uh if you look at it, you can see the current balance. >> Yes. >> So. >> Okay. >> I'm out. >> Okay. I'll I'll come get you in a second. >> Yeah, just holler out here and they'll get us on the mic cuz we'll be up next. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. So, I'm not here to embarrass you, okay? Um any more than you already are, okay? Um I prefer to handle this a little bit more delicately. Um I understand that people go through rough times, okay? I'm just trying to figure out, okay, what's going on, okay? Obviously, we had a boo-boo, okay? And I'm trying to figure out um some details, okay? Cuz I understand people go through a patch, okay? I I fully understand that, okay? Um obviously, for me to talk to you, I obviously have to read you your rights, okay? That way you're aware of what's going on, okay? Um yeah. Um and she's on Okay. >> Yes, I am. Yep, I'm recording. >> Do you have the Have you been read your rights >> Yeah, I've been read my rights before, just not right now. >> Just not right now? Okay. Um do you have the right to remain silent? Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You do have the right to an attorney and have one present with you while you're being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be represent uh appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You may decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights? >> Yes, I do. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. How do you want some out of you to continue talking to me? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I'm going to allow you to kind of explain to me kind of what happened before I I look at the video myself. >> I honestly I just I get child support taken out every week out of my check and it takes like me over half of my over half of my check. >> Okay. >> I should be getting anywhere from 4 to 500 every week and I'm getting not even two half the time. So, it's just like I'm trying to keep up on my rent every month which is over a thousand dollars. My car insurance is over 200 same with my um my storage unit is almost 200 and my phone is 100 plus gas in my car every week. >> Mhm. >> It's like over a hundred dollars. >> So, so you're not You just bills are >> It's like I don't >> way over the top of what you make. >> Right. >> Is this your only job? >> Yes. >> How long have you been employed here? >> Been here for over a year. >> Over a year. How much do you make an hour here? >> Uh I think right now it's at 1580 something. >> Okay. >> But like I said, with the child support it just takes a huge chunk out. It takes almost half of my check every week. >> How many kids are you paying child support on? Two? And this is to the dad father? >> Uh no, it's to the deceased father's mother. >> I'm not sure how that works. >> I don't know what they had. She has to borrow garden shed for my kids. I just haven't been able to get them back and I have been paying for it since and it's truck insurance. >> Okay. And how long have you been in kind of a financial squeeze? The whole time? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> What was the last time you had a What did you do before this? >> Uh before this job, I was working at Darrell's and it wasn't any better. I was making probably just about the same amount >> Okay. >> of money as this. >> Any Any schooling? >> No, no schooling. >> No schooling? >> No schooling. >> Okay. Um Any support system? >> No, I just have like my mom and friends and my boyfriend. That's really it. >> Okay. Explain to me what happened here. Uh Cuz Cuz um and when this all kind of started, when this all all unraveled. >> Honestly, it unraveled when I took on a place for myself in the beginning of the year. Um >> So, January? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> between January and February and it was just like I was in the hole that I dug myself. And that's all it was. It was just like really heavy, so And I made some poor choices to try to stay afloat. >> Okay. Wh- When do you think you you start When do you think these poor choices started? >> I want to say it was around in January or February. I'm not exactly sure. >> Okay. So, this has been going back back to January. >> Yes. It hasn't been long, but >> Okay. How How many How much money were you getting, do you think, a week? >> I honestly don't know cuz whenever I would have enough to pay any of my bills, I'd set it aside until it was time to pay it and then pay my bills. >> Now were you paying your bills cash or were you putting this in a bank account? >> Um cash for most of it. >> Wha- What kind of bills are you paying to be in your channel support? What are the main thing or >> That's the main one that gets deducted out of my check. Um aside from what I've got going on the side that uh other than that, that's all I'm paying, I guess, that gets deducted out of my check. >> Mhm. It's How if you had to guess only how much total do you think rough ball park, do you think you've gotten since January? >> I don't really know. I haven't been able to have my rent paid for a couple months. >> And that's you don't know when you get your rent paid? >> Not that. Not as to where I have it each month cuz I would pay at the end of the month. So, I don't really get it. >> Just give me an honest rough ball park. >> don't know. It would be a couple I think it would be it would be like maybe a hundred. It all depends. I just was putting it aside cuz I had to pay something. >> Mhm. Would you Would you consider these estimates somewhat fair or What What do you think about these numbers? Cuz you're saying that's 100 here, 100 there, 250 here. Does that look right to you or do you think >> It might be. I honestly don't know. >> Mhm. Now, did someone else put you on this? Did this become this idea yourself? >> No, nobody had anything. >> All right. >> Seeing that, I was like, oh. Just a small little bit. >> And it's probably it's a national company. They won't go broke. >> No, just I wasn't thinking of anybody else. Just trying to survive. >> Mhm. >> So, I'm trying to too. >> How many videos do you have that I can see right now? Peggy's got saved. She said what? Five, six videos? >> Yeah. >> Hey, let me I just want to see the the method do, I don't know anyway. >> It's this one here. She is not doing a shift break at this time. She just walks over, opens the door, takes the money. Now, in a minute, she'll come back and do it to the other two. There's no reason unless she's doing a shift break for the other one there. >> And that's just a key? >> We're going to fix that. This is the third store nationwide that this has happened to. So, we going to fix our process, but in the meantime you know. >> You look You guys look at YouTube YouTube recently? I mean, with that body cameras, you can see anything you want. And employee and manage especially managers manager thefts are like It's like a whole YouTube channel that's dedicated to it. >> We don't put our on YouTube. I'll let you do your thing. Can I use the restroom real quick? >> Yeah. What else do you have here? You have your vehicle here? Is that >> Just my vehicle. >> What do we want to do with cars or vehicles? >> What did he tell you? >> I can leave my keys with one of my coworkers. >> Okay. >> Um is is >> We can give her 48 hours to keep in the parking lot. >> Okay. >> It's the decent thing to do. >> I appreciate that. >> Okay. >> All right. Um what coworker are we giving your keys to? Is it the one that's right out here or is it someone else? And then do you have uh >> He's probably I think he's by the showers. >> Okay. >> He's one of my maintenance guys. >> Okay. We walk back there. Um and then you have Do you have your phone on you or is it in your car? >> Uh no, it's in the car. I want to go get it real quick so that I can write down some numbers. >> Okay. Um >> I can give him the keys after if you prefer or >> Where's your car parked at? >> Right out here. >> Okay. Do you Do you care if I go get your phone? >> Um >> We We It's just a officer safety issue if if especially so if you're going to jail we can like you can just after safety I don't know exactly where it is in my car that's why I was going to just go try to grab it real quick but you can come with me I'm not going to run is he whatever he's doing is he able to step away for a second where he can come out with your keys and we can all stand at the car together I thought I was going to say it's right there I don't know if that's right or >> What >> Daniels >> Somebody just called me >> Where are you at >> I ran to my truck to grab my charger >> Can you stay there a minute I need you for a second >> Okay >> Thank you He's outside Okay Do you know where he parks at >> He should be in the same area >> Oh y'all have like a designated spot you park okay all right >> It should be about the end of your >> It's all right I got to do what I got to do you know >> If you didn't call me I'm like I'm going to roll up in there I'm not going to wait >> Yeah >> You know me I get >> Yeah Um and then do you need to roll this window up in case it rains >> Yeah I probably should >> Um is that one >> You have a banana? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um Do you have everything you need? >> Yes. >> All right. We're going to walk over to not this silver Explorer, but the one next to it, the actual marked car. >> Yes. >> I'm going to put you in on the passenger side just so that way I can see you um instead of being behind me. Just um do you have anything on you that you're not supposed to have? >> My phone and my car keys are in my pocket. That's it. >> Um I just have to pat you down. So, I'll try to do it the best. If you want to step up close to the car. Yes, sir. I just No, you're good. You didn't spit. I just didn't want to um um Is it It won't >> It's not funny. I have to start this up. >> Do you think you're okay? >> Honey, I I think so. I've known you for like 5 years or so. >> You're good. >> Oh, nice look. >> I'll leave the back window down, but when we get to the district where we're going, I have to say you can go. Okay? Bye. Um and I'm going to put these in the back, okay? >> She was charged with fraud after swindling property valued under $20,000. Share your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to like and subscribe.

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