RIVERSIDE – A Target employee and his female accomplice concocted an embezzlement scheme that resulted in over $100,000 worth of items from the stole being stolen. It also resulted in the arrest of the pair of thieves.
recovered merchandise
Asset Protection from the store on the 2700 block of Canyon Springs Road contacted the Riverside Police Department. An investigation then began earlier this month.
Apparently the scheme went on for the past five months. 23-year-old Elias Hernandez was the employee. The RPD details the scheme – “The store employee would allow this female suspect to “price check” items well below their actual value, but would also give the female gift cards to use toward her fraudulent purchases. One example included where a $15 package of diapers was rung up for only $2 to $3 dollars.”
More recovered merchandise
Hernandez was arrested at the store on June 5. He was booked for embezzlement and grand theft.
Eight days later officers served a search warrant at a residence in the 220 block of Jomada Drive, where 34-year-old Mandeep Chamdal lived. There they found the $100,000 worth of stolen property from Target.
The RPD added, ” It is believed the suspect would sell the stolen merchandise at local swap meets, particularly one in Wildomar.”
Chamdal was booked for grand theft.
