Courts take employee theft very seriously
The case of an employee who stole £1 million worth of car parts from his employer and was remanded in custody highlights just how seriously the courts treat large financial crimes.
On 4 March this year, officers from Thames Valley Police were informed of a potential theft at a car parts distribution centre in Milton Keynes, after management noticed a significant amount of stock going missing. An investigation began straight away and Konrad Labinski, an employee of 20 years, was arrested on 7 March.
He was charged the next day and remanded in custody when officers discovered more than 1,000 car parts at his home, valued at close to £1 million. Following a police interview, he pleaded guilty to employee theft and was sentenced to two years in jail.
The sentence, combined with the fact that Labinski went from having a well-paid job and company car to losing his livelihood and being sent to prison, serves as a clear warning that the consequences of employee theft can be life-changing.
Warnings have even reached supermarket Waitrose, where posters in staff areas remind employees of the consequences of stealing from their employer.
This is likely in response to rising levels of employee theft across the retail sector, with a 2023 study suggesting staff were responsible for up to 40 per cent of incidents.
Roger Isaacs, National Technical Director of NIFA, said: “Employee theft is a very real and, unfortunately, it is increasingly common. However, sadly, what is far less common is swift and decisive action by the Police. In Mr Labinski’s case, the fact that he was caught red-handed with stolen items at his home would have vastly increased the chances of a successful prosecution and simplified the issues for a jury to consider.
“By contrast, all too often, if a business finds itself the victim of fraud, the Police can seem disinterested and reluctant to prosecute. For that reason, there have been a growing number of private prosecutions in which the victims themselves prosecute the fraudsters, supported by evidence that has been put together by suitably qualified lawyers and forensic accountants.
“The costs of such prosecutions are paid by the State, win or lose, which means that when they are used in conjunction with compensation orders, they can be not only an effective deterrent but also a means to recover stolen monies.”
Sources: Thames Valley Police, Telegraph
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