Two weeks ago I wrote about a city employee in Monroe, LA who stole thousands of dollars from her employer while collecting cash payment for lodging and shelter rentals at a city facility (see "Financial Controls Somewhat Limited", Jan.11, 2011).  I mentioned the absence of financial accountability and audit processes as a key ingredient in the “theft triangle”.   Because of the lack of accountability, there was a perceived low risk of detection, which lead to motive for stealing the cash. 

The article headline stated “Restaurant Robbery May Have Been an Inside Job”. A headline like that usually grabs my attention. It detailed a Subway’s front glass had been shattered and cash stolen from the safe. Current and former employees are suspected, because after all, a few of the employees were on the verge of being fired and someone used the combination to enter the safe. That’s a given, but what’s more relevant to me is the fact that this was NOT a robbery – it was a burglary; two very different crimes. I’ve heard many times, “My store was robbed last night!” My response was usually, “Wow! What happened? Was anyone hurt?” “ Uhhh, no someone broke in when no one was there.” So, it is common mistake to interchange the crimes.

 This article from Monroe, LA reports the theft by a city worker.  She worked at a city park venue where she collected the payments for lodging and shelter rentals since 2004.  When the payments were in cash, she stole it.  Her thefts totaled thousands of dollars.  She allegedly issued receipts, but did not turn in the cash to City Hall. 

An employee of a fast food (QSR) or Fast Casual restaurant walks across the kitchen floor slips on a wet, greasy tile floor and falls. He or she gets up and brushes debris from their clothes and go back to work. A few minutes later another employee slips on the same wet or greasy tile floor. He or she hits their head on the edge of the sink on the way down, a knee twists awkwardly and ligaments snap. Within minutes emergency services rushes the employee to the hospital.