The former office manager for the Garrett Hardware stores in Windsor and Healdsburg was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of embezzling $348,000 from the two stores, a Sonoma County sheriff's sergeant said.
Glynis Susan Lewis, 44, was arrested at her Santa Rosa home for grand theft, possession of stolen property and money laundering, Sgt. Michael Raasch said.
Lewis allegedly took large sums of money from daily cash deposits at the two stores between 2006 and November 2012, Raasch said.
When the Garrett Hardware stores' business owners discovered irregular and suspicious accounting practices, Lewis learned she was under investigation and resigned in October 2013, Raasch said.
Lewis left an apology letter with an admission statement, Raasch said. Detectives uncovered additional evidence of theft when they searched her home and personal bank accounts over the past six months, Raasch said.
A manager at the Windsor store who would not give her name said Lewis worked at the stores for about 10 years in the accounting and human resources departments.
"We had no idea how it happened. It was a shock to all of us," the store manager said. Galen Butts, a manager at Garrett Hardware and Plumbing in Healdsburg would not comment on the incident.
Lewis was charged Wednesday with grand theft, money laundering and three counts of receiving stolen property.
She is scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Meanwhile, yesterday in the South Bay, a woman was indicted for alleged embezzlement of $1.34 million from Symantec, and using the funds for deluxe vacations and more. Read that story here: Woman Indicted in Alleged Embezzlement of $1.34 Million from Symantec.
--Bay City News
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