Chesco Woman, 70, With 'Shopping Addiction' Stole $250K: DA

VALLEY TOWNSHIP, PA -- A 70-year-old woman is behind bars after stealing more than $250,000 from her employer, a township in Chester County, the District Attorney's Office announced early Wednesday.

Donna Groff, 70, of Downingtown, faces charges felony theft and related counts.

Groff, a receptionist for Valley Township for about 10 years, was well-liked and trusted by her co-workers, according to the DA. Her job included handling cash payments for water, sewer, and trash bills from township residents. At some point, she began putting the cash in her purse and simply walking out the door with it at the end of the day, police said.

Groff had fabricated fraudulent bank deposit slips and altered bookkeeping records to cover up what she was doing, but in Dec. 2017, another employee noticed large amounts of cash, missing, and reported the incident. Eventually, authorities tracked the thefts to Groff.

Groff said that she stole the funds - $264,577.84 in total - to fund a "shopping addiction," purchasing items like jewelry, shoes, makeup, home decorations, designer clothes, and more. She went on sprees on QVC, online, and at other outlets, police said.

Groff was fired when the thefts were discovered and arrested. Bail was set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office