Thief Brings back $10,000
Marysville, Ohio (United States):
Christmas bonuses for employees at Stottlemyer Hydromulching Inc. in Marysville, Ohio, are back on track - nine months and one apparently remorseful thief later.
Investigators had all but given up on finding $10,000 in cash and gift certificates stolen last December when the loot was returned last week, along with the hand-lettered envelopes it came in. And the thief apparently didn't spend a cent.
The 2004 Christmas bonuses for 37 employees were found last Wednesday morning on the company's floor. The money was in stacks containing the same amount of $20 and $50 bills that were taken after the company's holiday party was canceled because of a snowstorm. Nearby were open envelopes with employees' names.
"It's like they were proving to us, 'Yes, this is the same money we took, because here are the envelopes,"' said Ember Prince, who works for the agricultural business in this city of 16,000 about 27 miles northwest of Columbus.
The company couldn't afford to replace the bonuses, forcing some employees who were counting on the added money to return gifts they had bought. On Tuesday evening, Detective Kevin Weller had called the company to ask a few more questions but conceded the Sheriff's Office was preparing to close the case and that the money likely was gone.
But overnight someone cut a window screen at the business, forced the window and dumped the money inside. "It just blows our minds that someone could just hold on to that for nine months and then give it all back," Prince said.
Sept 28, 2005
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Associated Press
Marysville, Ohio (United States):
Christmas bonuses for employees at Stottlemyer Hydromulching Inc. in Marysville, Ohio, are back on track - nine months and one apparently remorseful thief later.
Investigators had all but given up on finding $10,000 in cash and gift certificates stolen last December when the loot was returned last week, along with the hand-lettered envelopes it came in. And the thief apparently didn't spend a cent.
The 2004 Christmas bonuses for 37 employees were found last Wednesday morning on the company's floor. The money was in stacks containing the same amount of $20 and $50 bills that were taken after the company's holiday party was canceled because of a snowstorm. Nearby were open envelopes with employees' names.
"It's like they were proving to us, 'Yes, this is the same money we took, because here are the envelopes,"' said Ember Prince, who works for the agricultural business in this city of 16,000 about 27 miles northwest of Columbus.
The company couldn't afford to replace the bonuses, forcing some employees who were counting on the added money to return gifts they had bought. On Tuesday evening, Detective Kevin Weller had called the company to ask a few more questions but conceded the Sheriff's Office was preparing to close the case and that the money likely was gone.
But overnight someone cut a window screen at the business, forced the window and dumped the money inside. "It just blows our minds that someone could just hold on to that for nine months and then give it all back," Prince said.
Sept 28, 2005
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Associated Press
