WINLOCK, Wash. — The manager of a Winlock, Washington, store stole thousands of dollars in scratch tickets and hid evidence of the thefts, some of which were caught on camera, Lewis County authorities said.
Prosecutors said Benjamin Macy, 51, repeatedly stole $20 scratch tickets that cost Cedar Village IGA and the Washington Lottery Commission more than $100,000 over several years, the Chronicle reported.
Police said Macy would cash in the winning tickets. State lottery records showed that among the winning tickets Macy cashed was a $10,000 ticket last June and $1,000 prizes last summer and this spring.
Since he was the store manager at the time of the thefts, Macy was able to hide any sign of his activities, prosecutors said.
Authorities said surveillance cameras filmed Macy stealing tickets on several occasions. Winlock police arrested Macy Saturday. Prosecutors said he will likely be charged with multiple counts of theft among other charges.
Thanks to Delta Draw for the tip.
Who is this guy? A male version of Deborah Strong?
Just another Dishonest Person!
YOU KNOW A NEW IDEA JUST CAME TO ME. LET'S EXILE ALL THESE CROOKS ON SOME REMOTE ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC OFF OF HAWAII OR THEREABOUTS. WHO'S WITH ME?
I CAN BET YOU ALOT OF CROCODILES' EYES JUST LIGHTED UP AFTER HEARING ME SAY THAT. HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Hum, it still confuses me as to why stores have cameras for many years, yet don't prosecute employees caught doing wrongful behavior on the film. Isn't there any film in half of those cameras? Or does the owner believe that the camera, ALONE without film, is enough to deter wrongful behavior of employees?
Perhaps several store owners believe that it is CHEAPER to have a camera installed, yet not hire a person to REGULARLY review the films for wrongful behavior. If more store film footage was regularly reviewed in our country, more jobs would have to be created. Paying an adept film reviewer $2,500/month may be worthwhile for a larger store.
I am trying to figure out the math here, he is accused of stealing more than $100,000 worth of scratcher tickets, with the smaller tickets @$20.00 and the largest @$10,000. I would like to know
the exact number of scratcher tickets to estimate a total theft of $100,000--i.e. 5,000 tickets, 7,000 tickets? I guess they won't really tell us this side of the story. Also, since he was the manager at the time, he could have known in advance which tickets to steal in order to really profit from it. However, the bottom line is that he finally was caught red-handed!!
This just goes to show that not just people with "funny names" steal as somebody here alluded once.