Former Dorset Police worker admits stealing nearly £15,000 from evidence bags
She was tasked with logging the money
A former Dorset Police worker responsible for a force's evidence stores has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly £15,000 in cash from evidence bags.
Lisa Arnold, of Benlease Way, Swanage, Dorset, admitted at Weymouth Magistrates' Court the theft of the money she was tasked with logging at Dorset Police's headquarters.
Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, told the court the 52-year-old would slit open the bottom of the clear bags and take out some of the money before resealing them with tape.
She raided 17 bags for a total of £14,494.20, which she stored in Tesco carrier bags in her wardrobe before depositing it in her bank between October 14 2018 and March 19 2022, the court heard.
Ms Valera said Arnold joined the force in 2016 and worked as an evidential property researcher.
She said: "She logged exhibits going in and out and often these were money. Often the exhibits are uncounted and the word 'uncounted' put on the exhibit envelopes.
"Miss Arnold tells us in her interview she would look for uncounted exhibits in cash. She would open the envelope at the bottom, not breaking the seal, took out the cash and resealed it with Sellotape.
"She tells us that she used the cash to put in her bank account. She would put the money into Tesco bags in her wardrobe and then into the bank."
Ms Valera said Arnold "breached a high degree of trust" through her stealing, which impacted the reputation of the criminal justice system and threw suspicion on her fellow workers.
She said Arnold could face in excess of three years and six months in prison.
Romana Phillips, chairwoman of the magistrates' panel, committed the case for sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court on January 6 and released Arnold on unconditional bail until then.
She told the defendant: "The offence is so serious that you may need greater punishment than we can give in the magistrates' court. Therefore we are committing the case to the crown court."