Former Amazon employee stole over $18K from 315 customer gift cards, thought thefts were untraceable  Police said an employee transferred more than $18,000 from Amazon.com customers' gift cards into her accounts, thinking the thefts could not be traced. Amanda Budurka, who worked at I-Gourmet on Delaware Avenue where Amazon rents space, provided a signed statement and admitted stealing from the gift cards for more than a year, police said. Martin Rakaczewski, loss prevention manager for Amazon.com in Breinigsville, said Budurka has been stealing gift cards from the company's fulfillment office in I-Gourmet. Budurka began working as temporary employee in April 2011 and was promoted to an Amazon associate in August of that year. Rackaczewski said Amazon investigator Sheila Hamm contacted him on Feb. 23 after receiving calls from customers whose gift cards were either not working or had no funds applied to them. The cards were tracked and Budurka was identified as the person who shipped them. Between September 2013 and Feb. 25 a total of $18,259 from 315 cards were transferred to two Amazon accounts Budurka had opened. When questioned by Rackaczewski on Feb. 24, Budurka admitted stealing the funds. In a signed statement she said, "I have been taking gift cards since around Christmas time two years ago when it was brought to my attention that they were untraceable by another associate." timesleader.com

Chicago thieves swipe $67K worth of goods during 'major burglary'
The incident happened about 6 a.m. Sunday at a strip mall at 800 N. Kedzie Ave., according to the alert, issued by Area North detectives. Police said the thieves used a heavy-duty power tool to break into the back door of at least one of three establishments -- J Bees, Ashley Stewart and Shoe Trends, taking multiple pairs of Robin's blue jeans that police said were being sold for hundreds of dollars, Polo garments, and Nike and UGG footwear -- merchandise that totaled more than $67,000. chicagotribune.com

Pair pilfer $9,000 worth of women's undergarments from J.C. Penney in Wyoming  Police say a man and woman have stolen more than $9,000 worth of women's undergarments from a department store in Wyoming's capital. Officer Dan Long, a Cheyenne police spokesman, says the shoplifters made off with just over 1,000 pairs of panties from the J.C. Penney store in a local mall Wednesday afternoon. Police estimate roughly 800 pairs of Ambrielle brand underwear and 200 pairs of Flirtitude brand garments were taken. usnews.com

Amityville, NY woman and nephew charged in 'fraudulent return' scheme  A 55-year-old Amityville woman and her 37-year-old nephew have been charged in a scheme to fraudulently return merchandise at the Riverhead Lowe's Home Improvement Center, according to Riverhead Police. Barbara A. Brennan and William E. Brennan, of Bay Shore, were charged with petit larceny after an investigation by the Riverhead detective division, according to a Riverhead Police press release issued last night. They were identified as making separate fraudulent returns at the Riverhead store on Jan. 25, police said. Suffolk and Nassau police are investigating additional fraudulent returns made throughout both counties, according to police. Riverhead police said they were contacted by Lowe's loss prevention manager on Feb. 23. riverheadlocal.com

Baby formula thief arrested after fleeing Walmart in Stafford Twp., NJ
Anthony P. Browne was confronted by Walmart loss prevention officers in the store but left the merchandise and fled the area in a silver Kia Optima, according to Patrolman Chris Fritz, a police department spokesman. Stafford Police later located the vehicle and conducted a motor vehicle stop with the suspects' car. Both the driver, Matthew J. Jurich, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, and Browne, 35, of Little Egg Harbor, were both arrested at the scene and transported back to headquarters, Fritz said. The investigation later revealed Browne was responsible for two separate incidents regarding the theft of baby formula from the Walmart. Browne was charged with two counts of Theft. app.com

Three Chicago women caught with over 100 counterfeit credit cards, making fraudulent purchases at area stores

Thailand - Police arrest three in Russian ATM skimming gang, still hunting for leader