An employee is accused of stealing over $60,000 from a local bingo hall over a six-month period, according to St. Lucie County sheriff’s officials.<\/p>\n
Amber Nicole Brunt, 38, of Fort Pierce was arrested June 4 on two grand theft charges \u2014 grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000 and grand theft between $750 and $5,000, according to sheriff’s officials via news release.<\/p>\n
The theft investigation began June 3 when deputies went to Happy Days Bingo at 8441 S. U.S. 1, near Port St. Lucie, after a representative of the business reported an employee, identified as Brunt, had been taking cash from the business during her work shifts, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
Fort Pierce: Man charged with attempted murder after shooting<\/a><\/p>\n Weather: Regular rain gradually easing drought conditions<\/a><\/p>\n During an internal review, management identified about $9,200 in documented thefts spanning 10 of Brunt’s shifts, according to sheriff’s officials.<\/p>\n Further examination of financial records, documented cash shortages and other evidence showed an estimated loss of about $60,000 over a six-month period, sheriff’s officials said.<\/p>\n Detectives reviewed surveillance video and saw Brunt pocketing money, sheriff’s Capt. Andrew Bolonka told TCPalm on June 5.<\/p>\n As detectives were on their way to the bingo hall to arrest her on the first charge of grant theft, Bolonka said, they got a call from the owner who claimed to see her pocket $780 in the first seven minutes of her shift \u2014 leading to the second charge of grand theft.<\/p>\n Detectives took Brunt into custody June 4, and she was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail, where she remained June 5 with a $155,000 bail.<\/p>\n (This story had been updated with more information.)<\/p>\n Laurie K. Blandford<\/a>\u00a0is a\u00a0breaking news reporter\u00a0with TCPalm. Email her at\u00a0laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n