Lucy Read admitted pocketing an unconfirmed amount of cash from a Co-operative Travel store where she worked between July 15 and December 19 last year.
South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court heard how the travel agency had used a “covert” security camera to catch Read stealing money on November 25, after management had become concerned about the company’s accounts when Read was on duty.
Prosecutor Wayne Ablett told the court how following that incident, a number of discrepancies were discovered involving Read.
The store estimated that Read, 32, of Roseberry Road, Ipswich stole around £2,000 over the course of her spree.
Read would pretend to purchase euros with falsified names and addresses of fictitious customers and would then remove cash from the shop’s safe, the Ipswich Star reported.
When confronted by staff she admitted stealing money over a period of around six months.
During a police interview Read, who had worked for the agency since October 2014, told officers she needed the cash to pay rent on a shared house after her housemate was made redundant and was struggling financially.
Magistrates were told Read believed the total value of the thefts to be between £800 and £900.
Representing Read, Mark Holt said his client accepted making nine or 10 false transactions.
He added: “It seemed very much sooner or later she was always going to be found out.”
Magistrates sentenced Read to a 12-month community on top of which she must complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
In addition, Read was ordered to pay £85 court costs as well as a victim surcharge of £85.
