Popular Slideshows On CBS11TV.COM
Apr 29, 2009 10:00 pm US/Central
Jewelry Store Employee Accused In Epic Heist
NYC Worker Accused Of Stealing $12M In Gold
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
She lives in manicured Scarsdale splendor, a mother of three whose management job had her surrounded by riches at a heavily guarded jewelry manufacturing business in Long Island City.
It was there, with easy access to the vault, that police said 50-year-old Teresa Tambunting stole from her employer -- year after year, piece by piece.
"Given that she worked there 28 years this had been going on a long time," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City.
Investigators said she hid gold pieces in the lining of her purse and walked through security and out the door.
A company audit revealed hundreds of pounds of gold missing. The value: $12 million.
Co-worker Maria Garcia was stunned.
"Everybody is surprised," Garcia said. "She was a normal person."
Looking at the security area for Jacmel Jewelry, it is easy to see how tight the area is. Police said to pull off a multi-million dollar heist the thief would need to be on the inside, trusted, with a clever way of getting the loot out of this building.
After an audit uncovered the $12 million in merchandise missing, investigators said Tambunting knew the heat was on and starting bringing suitcases of gold back to the vault.
"She retuned some $800,000 worth of gold directly to the company," Brown said. "We executed a search warrant and found an additional $2 million at her home,"
Tambunting did not return to her home Wednesday after she was released on $100,000 bail.
"They're different from the rest of the neighborhood. You don't see them around. They stick to themselves," neighbor Marsha Kalisch said.
Tambunting is charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
If convicted, Tambunting faces up to 25 years in jail.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Recent Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments