Store manager arrested for theft that he reported

[February 19, 2009]  METAIRIE, La. (AP) -- Deputies said they didn't have to look far to find the person who stole thousands of dollars worth of heating and air conditioning equipment. They say the thief was right behind the counter.

According to a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrest report, a 44-year-old man, who manages an appliance part store, may have made off with about $203,000 worth of inventory.

On Jan. 9, the manager filed a theft report indicating that 70 rolls of 50-foot copper sheets were missing from his inventory. The report said that further investigation by the company revealed that the manager had been entering the store after hours using his personal alarm code.

Officials said the manager later confessed to selling the equipment and pocketing up to $50,000 in cash on the deals.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com/

[Associated Press]

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