NCJ Number
130032
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1991) Pages: 81-83
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Employee embezzlement is often covered up by reporting an armed robbery, and such dishonesty is often not detected because the crime is investigated as an outside theft instead of as an internal offense.
Abstract
Employees have far more opportunity to steal than nonemployees. Employee embezzlement falsely reported as an armed robbery can often be identified by seven common characteristics: (1) timing -- employees steal money at the most advantageous time; (2) suspect description -- vague or changing suspect descriptions may indicate a poorly rehearsed cover story; (3) solitary witness -- be suspicious if nobody but the victim saw the criminal; (4) suspicious injuries -- superficial, possibly self-inflicted, injuries of a minor nature should be viewed with skepticism; (5) disguises -- disguises are worn to keep from being identified or recognized; (6) defense victim -- be wary if the witness-victim is defensive, perhaps opting for legal representation at an inappropriate stage of report taking; and (7) anything unusual -- be aware of anything suspicious. The key to solving employee embezzlement is a thorough, timely investigation. Procedures to follow in obtaining statements, searching for the money, and prosecuting the crime are described.