Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In October 2022, a cashier was caught stealing by canceling transactions and mishandling €600. After disappearing, he faced wage theft and money laundering charges, receiving 90 hours of community service.
In early October 2022, a cashier at a store was caught stealing by canceling transactions after scanning customers’ items. Instead of completing the sales, he let customers take their goods without paying, leading to a significant loss for the store.
What motivated a Halle cashier to steal €600 and face charges?
The cashier’s actions were intentional, as he tried to trick the store’s checkout system. By canceling sales right after scanning items, he helped customers steal and might have gained from it too. It has been said that this suspicious behavior likely led to an investigation that uncovered his scheme. This case highlights the risks of fraud in retail, where employees can misuse their trust for personal benefit.
The day after stealing money, the young man did something worse by messing with the cash register. He put 600 euros in the wrong drawer, where that money shouldn’t go. He planned to take the money home at the end of his shift without anyone noticing. He thought ahead and tried to hide the money to steal it without getting caught. A week later, the young man suddenly stopped coming to work. His disappearance happened around the same time as the missing money and his strange actions with the cash register. His absence disrupted his job and led to further investigation into his activities, uncovering his dishonest behavior.
The store’s security cameras recorded everything, as stated by the public prosecutor during the trial. They tried to question the young man several times, but he never showed up. There’s another case against him for money laundering that happened around the same time. He denied stealing the money, saying he might have made a mistake while scanning items but didn’t take 600 euros. The court found him guilty of wage theft and ordered him to do 90 hours of community service. If he fails to finish it, he may face a 12-month sentence.
