Speedway Employee Accused Of Making Fake Refunds

MOKENA, IL - A woman who was working at Speedway last month faces a retail theft charge after police say she stole from the business at 19855 S. La Grange Road on multiple occasions. Tahka D. Pinkston, 20, of Richton Park was charged at 3:50 p.m. on Sept. 10, according to a Mokena police report.

A manager at the business told police of several "suspicious refunds" of propane and cigarettes by the employee. According to the report, the refunds occurred multiple times over a two-week span and at all times when there was not a single customer present.

Police say security camera footage from the gas station showed Pinkston making nine different fraudulent refunds between Aug. 14 and Sept. 9. The report states Pinkston would purchase the item, cancel it and place the refunded cash in her pocket.

In all, Speedway reported losses of about $700 in the alleged scheme.

Patch file photo / Tim Moran