Shop worker stole £4000 of gift cards

Caught after Boots probe

A Stirling woman stole more than £4000 worth of gift cards from the shop she worked in.

Natalie Lange, of Whins Road, admitted taking the cards between October 2017 and February this year at Boots in The Thistles Centre.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks told Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday that Boots had been investigating cash losses in the store.

It was highlighted that the likely source was transactions involving gift cards being put through tills with no cash exchanged.

Ms Brooks said each member of staff has a different identifier when using a till.

Lange was identified as selling the largest amount of gift cards and an investigation was carried out.

CCTV showed her putting gift cards through the till while no customer was present.

When Lange was interviewed by a member of staff she admitted stealing the gift cards and apologised.

She was suspended and told police would be contacted.

Police viewed the CCTV and a cash loss of £4350.80 was identified.

When she was interviewed by police Lange admitted the offence.

Asked if there had been a reason for the crime, she said: ‘I don’t know. I’m just struggling with everything.’

She also said: ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was going to happen.’

Her lawyer Alastair Ross told Sheriff William Gilchrist his client had a background of mental health issues including anxiety and depression.

Lange pleaded guilty by letter last month and her court appearance was delayed because she was due to get married on August 17.

Sheriff Gilchrist deferred sentence on 30-year-old Lange for a criminal justice social work report until October 3.

She was ordered to appear on that date.