Woman Accused Of Stealing Almost $3K Worth Of Sunglasses From Pearle Vision
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Cottage Grove woman is accused of stealing almost $3,000 worth of eyewear from a Hastings Pearle Vision last spring.
Emily Catherine Pesek, 31, is facing one count of theft over $1,000.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 2, 2014 the manager of the Pearle Vision told police that approximately 25 pairs of sunglasses were missing.
The manager said that employees had noticed spots in the display case around June 22 or 23, 2014.
Further investigation revealed that an employee had been in the store after hours and without permission on June 5 and June 21, 2014.
According to the criminal complaint, the manager suspected Pesek had stolen the sunglasses as she had been having performance issues. There had also been times when the cash register was short at the end of Pesek's shift.
Officials said surveillance video from a nearby Walmart showed Pesek's blue Dodge Dakota truck in the area of the store around the time someone had entered it on June 21, 2014.
Pesek was then fired from Pearle Vision on July 3, 2014.
Further investigation showed that Pesek had pawned 12 pairs of sunglasses in Fridley on May 21, 2014.
She had pawned five pairs of Ralph Lauren sunglasses and seven pairs of Armani sunglasses for a total value of $2,349.40.
On May 24, 2014 Pesek pawned three more pairs of Armani sunglasses for a total value of $599.85.
The criminal complaint states there were a number of other sunglasses that Pesek pawned which were not included on the initial list of missing eyewear.
During a recorded phone interview with an investigator on Jan. 28, 2015 Pesek admitted to working at Pearle Vision for six months and being fired on July 3, 2014.
She initially denied stealing the sunglasses, but later admitted that she had taken them. She admitted to taking seven pairs, but claimed she didn't remember any more than that because she was doing a lot of drugs.
According to the criminal complaint, Pesek said she took the sunglasses in hopes to sell them for money to use on methamphetamine.