Employee Accused Of Embezzling Carpet From North Bay Business

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Santa Rosa woman was booked into jail this week in connection with the suspected embezzlement of thousands of dollars worth of carpet from her employer, police said.

An investigation was launched Tuesday when a local flooring business contacted the Santa Rosa Police Department about possible embezzlement by an employee, police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said.

"Officers learned the suspect employee was witnessed at the business, after operating business hours, loading enormous rolls of carpet onto a flatbed trailer that was subsequently driven away," Mahurin said. "The value of the stolen flooring was estimated to be over $5,000."

Detectives with SRPD's Property Crimes Investigations Team worked to track down the missing flooring and the employee suspected of taking it.

As detectives were following a lead, they drove past a house in the 5800 block of Volkerts Road in Sebastopol and noticed a large roll of carpet in the driveway.

"The carpet was a match for one of the rolls stolen from the business," Mahurin said.

They got a search warrant for the residence and served it around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The involved employee, identified in a news release as Theresa Tobon, 54, of Santa Rosa, was arrested and the stolen property was recovered.

"Unfortunately, much of the new flooring had already been installed, however, the majority was recovered and turned over to the victim business," Mahurin said. "Tobon was a warehouse employee who worked for the business for 6 years."

Tobon was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony embezzlement and grand theft, police said.

She has since been released from custody, jail records showed Friday.

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