PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Pierce woman was arrested after an investigation into the theft of tens of thousands of dollars from a local business.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that deputies responded on June 3 to Happy Days Bingo at 8441 South U.S. Highway 1, after the business reported suspected internal theft. Management told investigators an employee, later identified as 38-year-old Amber Nicole Brunt, was allegedly taking cash during her work shifts.

An internal audit by the business first uncovered approximately $9,200 in documented thefts across 10 of Brunt’s shifts. However, a deeper review of financial records and cash discrepancies revealed the losses were far more extensive, with investigators estimating the total amount stolen at roughly $60,000 over a six-month period.

Given the scale of the alleged theft, the case was turned over to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, where SLCSO said detectives examined business records and other evidence to determine the extent of the missing funds.

Authorities said the investigation ultimately established probable cause that Brunt had committed multiple theft-related offenses, according to the sheriff’s office. On June 5, Redler made contact with Brunt and placed her under arrest without incident.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that deputies responded on June 3 to Happy Days Bingo at 8441 South U.S. Highway 1, after the business reported suspected internal theft. Management told investigators an employee, later identified as 38-year-old Amber Nicole Brunt, was allegedly taking cash during her work shifts. (SLCSO)

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that deputies responded on June 3 to Happy Days Bingo at 8441 South U.S. Highway 1, after the business reported suspected internal theft. Management told investigators an employee, later identified as 38-year-old Amber Nicole Brunt, was allegedly taking cash during her work shifts. (SLCSO)

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Brunt is charged with grand theft of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, as well as grand theft of $750 to less than $5,000, according to the news release. She was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail, where she remained in custody as of Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Brunt is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation remains part of ongoing efforts by local authorities to address financial crimes affecting businesses in the community.