BELLEFONTE — Charges have been filed against a 35-year-old Lock Haven woman who is accused of stealing lottery ticket money while working at Weis Market in Bellefonte.
Spring Township Police said Misty Dawn Ramser admitted to stealing about $3,000. The manager of the store said her cash drawer had been short on six different occasions, and those were only from the days he checked. She had worked at the store for six weeks.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with District Magistrate Kathy Gillette-Walker, authorities were called to the store, located on Buckaroo Lane, Feb. 3 to investigate the report of a retail theft. Police met with Phil Nichols, Weis Market’s district loss prevention director. He said he was alerted about an employee stealing money, and after reviewing video footage and examining records, determined Ramser stole money on at least five occasions. She was called into the store’s office where she admitted to taking the money and provided a written statement admitting “to probably under $3,000,” authorities said.
Police interviewed Ramser and asked her if she had money on her, and she produced six $100 bills. When asked if that money was stolen on that day, Ramser allegedly admitted “yes.” She allegedly told police when customers produced winning lottery tickets, she would register the ticket at a higher dollar value than was depicted on the ticket, give the winning amount to the customer, and keep the difference.
According to the affidavit, she told police the drawer would equal out correctly, however, the lottery money was short. She said she figured authorities would discover her activity at some point, but she said she needed the money so she took it.
Manager Michael Cassady said he needed help around the holiday season and brought Ramser onto the Weis team. He said he never had shorted drawers prior to Ramser’s employment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 15.
