Kings Island worker accused

THE ENQUIRER

A Forest Park woman is accused of stealing about $4,000 while working at Paramount's Kings Island this summer.

Christine Harris, 18, was indicted in Warren County on one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony.

She was working at the park's Skyline Chili restaurant and allegedly took money from the register between May 29 and Aug. 3, according to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

She would claim items were returned to explain the register shortage, the prosecutor said

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...EWS01/608220381

thats odd, u would need a sup or a manager to do a refund.

Hmmm....$4,000...so let's see with the food prices at Kings Island as high as they are, what does that tell us? She stole maybe 5 minutes worth of sales! (I'm surprised they noticed.)

If this is true, it is too bad that someone has to go to these measures.

It just seems to me that $4000 seems a bit much though. How can someone expect to get away with that kind of pilfering? (If you even consider it pilfering)

There may be more to this story.

^I agree Tggr! There probably is more to the story. Could be that she is hooked on some kind of drug and was stealing to feed the habit. I won't say that is what it was for sure, but you never know. If it was some kind of drug problem, then there was fear of being caught, but the need was far outweighing the risk involved.

This sounds like some really bad cash management/auditing. Aren't there basic procedures in place for refunds that would avoid this situation?

I've seen some pretty creative employee theft situations over the years...the one common denominator in the big ones is that there are usually multiple people involved. The standard POS/financial procedures at most companies usually makes single-person thefts in high amounts pretty difficult.

Actually not as uncommon as you may expect.

Even when I was a food service supervisor we prosecuted a few employees every year.

Actually not as uncommon as you may expect.

Even when I was a food service supervisor we prosecuted a few employees every year.

Actually...I don't expect it to be uncommon at all. I worked for a hotel company with 1200+ properties...that's a whole lot of cash drawers and a whole lot of opportunity for theft. I was often asked to analyze holes in operational/technical procedures that allowed thefts to occur. (I also owned my own restaurant for a while, and you're really aware of opportunities for theft when it's your own money )

My point is that "bogus refunds" is one of the most common ways to steal money (switching payment methods in the POS is another), so it seems strange that there wouldn't be a proactive procedure in place to avoid theft by that method.

Plus, this girl would have been averaging around $90/shift in "returned" food? That didn't set off any bells with the manager? I stand by my original comment...it's just bad cash management.

Actually not as uncommon as you may expect.

Even when I was a food service supervisor we prosecuted a few employees every year.

Actually...I don't expect it to be uncommon at all. I worked for a hotel company with 1200+ properties...that's a whole lot of cash drawers and a whole lot of opportunity for theft. I was often asked to analyze holes in operational/technical procedures that allowed thefts to occur. (I also owned my own restaurant for a while, and you're really aware of opportunities for theft when it's your own money )

My point is that "bogus refunds" is one of the most common ways to steal money (switching payment methods in the POS is another), so it seems strange that there wouldn't be a proactive procedure in place to avoid theft by that method.

Plus, this girl would have been averaging around $90/shift in "returned" food? That didn't set off any bells with the manager? I stand by my original comment...it's just bad cash management.

I'm certain it did.

Then they had to build the case and "shop" her as well to be able to build a case.

^

Yeah, good point...

It still just amazes what people think they'll be able to get away with, and what they're willing to risk to try it.

^

Yeah, good point...

It still just amazes what people think they'll be able to get away with, and what they're willing to risk to try it.

It's just a huge character issue.

By in far, I'd say that 99% of the folk that worked for me are above board and honest.

I'm one of those freaks though that would feel guilty if I stole a dime from a register. <G>

I'm just amazed that she was able to steal that much money. You would think with the drawer coming up short they would have been keeping an eye on her.

Not necessairly empty but short...

Dang you posted as I was editing my post. Yeah I meant short and not empty LOL. I work in retail, and if they suspect anything out of the ordianary they will watch you like a hawk. It's amazing what people will do.

As sad as it is, we do prosecute/fire MANY associates each year in just Food Service alone. How this girl was able to get $4000 from Skyline is beyond me. However, our void system is set up so you can basically steal...I will not go into detail of course, but it is set up completely wrong. The cash handling procedures at KI are laughable and when I was on Carts, the people who were checking tills that were off would just bag them up, even if they were off $100 or more and they would,"Talk to the associate tomorrow." Cedar Fair needs to examine these policies and make sure that there are cameras in each stand(most stands have cameras, I am mainly talking about cameras on the Cart Locations!) and on each register and that the void procedures are totally redone.