Woman Accused Of Stealing Tip Money From Sanitation Workers
By Todd Quinones
TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) - The tip money was meant to help sanitation workers and their families for Christmas, but instead police say a Rosemont woman stole the money for herself.
Tredyffrin Township Police allege 38-year-old Kristen Bazik stole close to $300 in tip money left out in front of about a dozen homes.
Envelopes with cash put out with the trash and addressed to "trash guys" or "sanitation department" police say were stolen by Bazik.
Some of the thefts happened on Academy Lane and Quail Lane where Mary Jo Spitzer lives.
"Before Christmas, I put the envelope because it was rainy and I put it inside, and I always get a thank you note every year," she said.
She believes Bazik might have stolen her tip money because she says her trash men didn't leave a thank you note like they normally do.
When we contacted her at her Rosemont home, Bazik had no comment, but off camera her husband told me when people leave their trash on the curb the public has a right to go through it.
Basik was arrested Christmas Eve after someone spotted her acting suspiciously and called police.
A Tredyffrin officer tracked her down in her car and pulled her over.
Police say a search of her car turned up the envelopes and money in her purse.
Bazik has been charged with theft and receiving stolen property.
Police believe there might be other victims in the area as well, and they are being urged to contact police immediately.
