Charges: Employee Stole $26K From Used Children's Store

ANOKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- A 34-year-old Brooklyn Park woman was charged with stealing $26,000 from her employer, a used children's clothing and toy store.

Deva Ann Sauer was charged with theft as investigators say she swindled $26,406.40 from the Once Upon A Child store, located in Anoka, Minn., during her time there, stretching from January 2011 to Aug. 22, 2012.

According to the complaint, a store co-owner witnessed Sauer make suspicious transactions during the closing shift on Aug. 21, 2012. Sauer made it look like someone had sold a used Columbia jacket to the store for $17.20 even though the store was closed. She then destroyed the receipt, appearing to pocket the transaction.

The store owners then had an auditor look at the transactions conducted on Sauer's account the very next day, and discovered that from Jan. 11, 2011, through Aug. 21, 2012, Sauer had made about 1,500 similar fraudulent transactions, always purchasing a used Columbia jacket from someone for about $16 or $17.20.

The complaint adds that Sauer sent the co-owner three incriminating text messages on Aug. 23, 2012, too, highlighted by a message of "I'm so ashamed. I can't bear to not be with my kids. Please can we work something out."