A veteran employee at the Home Depot in Cartersville is facing felony theft charges after police say she admitted to stealing money from the store by processing fake return transactions.
According to the Cartersville Police Department, officers were called to the Home Depot on Gentilly Boulevard on after store management requested assistance with an internal investigation into suspected employee theft.
Police identified the suspect as 25-year employee Susan Barlow, who most recently worked as the store’s Customer Service and Returns Manager.
Investigators said the store discovered Barlow had allegedly created fraudulent return transactions by entering merchandise into the computer system that had never actually been returned. Police said she then kept the cash issued for those refunds.
Authorities allege the scheme took place between April and mid-June, resulting in a loss of approximately $1,737.
Home Depot’s Asset Protection team reportedly turned over surveillance footage showing several transactions in which refund amounts were processed without any merchandise being brought back to the store.Investigators also said the company provided a written statement in which Barlow allegedly admitted to the thefts.
After being advised of her rights, police said Barlow agreed to speak with investigators and confessed to taking the money by manipulating the store’s return system.
She was taken into custody at the store and booked into the Bartow County Jail on a charge of felony theft by taking.
