Hanover Park woman gets 30 days for Bloomingdale gas station theft
Susan Verhaar once bragged to co-workers about getting a new diamond bracelet and necklace.
On Thursday, she was led to jail wearing less fancy cuffs.
Verhaar, 41, of Hanover Park, pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing more than $52,000 by skimming from bank deposits during her three years managing a Bloomingdale gas station.
She originally was charged with stealing more than $100,000, but pleaded to lesser charges in exchange for a 30-day sentence in the DuPage County jail and three years probation. She also was ordered to repay the $50,000 within three years.
Madhukent Shah, owner of the BP station on the 100 block of South Gary Avenue, said he turned over video footage to police after several deposits weren’t made and he suspected Verhaar.
Shah said the scheme unraveled after he switched accounting firms and conducted an audit. He said he believes Verhaar skimmed funds while preparing deposits in a back office and also while en route to the bank.
“She was supposed to put the money in the deposit bag and take it to (the bank),” he said outside of court Thursday. “Instead, she put it in her purse and took it to Kohl’s.”
Shah said it was Verhaar’s job to make sure the books were balanced, so he didn’t immediately notice any problems.
“The sentence is fair,” he said. “Hopefully she learns her lesson and the ownership will be reimbursed our funds.”
Verhaar immediately was taken into custody to begin serving her sentence.