A 30-year-old employee was arrested during a routine business check after surveillance video caught him allegedly stealing $3,000 from a safe.
Jonathan Elser, 30, of the 38600 block of North Miller Road in unincorporated Lake Villa, was charged with theft.
On January 18 at around 10:40 a.m., A Lake County sheriff’s deputy conducted a routine business check in the 27200 block of Volo Village Road in Volo, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Elser, who is an employee at the business, walked up and told the deputy that he found a key in the safe when he was opening the store for the day, which was apparently abnormal, Covelli said.
Elser told the deputy he had already called the owner to report his findings.
The deputy contacted the owner and learned Elser had told the owner that he opened the safe and found a note that said, “Gotcha!”
The owner told the deputy that over $3,000 in cash was stolen from the safe, Covelli said.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Elser obtaining unauthorized access into the safe and stealing the money.
Elser was released on a $50,000 recognizance bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 10.