11/07/2006

SELBVILLE- Police on Friday arrested a Selbyville woman accused of embezzling more than $27,000 from her employer.

Delaware State Police charged 37-year-old Susan L. Burkholder with five counts of second-degree forgery, seven counts of theft by false pretense, five counts of unlawful use of a credit card, six counts of criminal impersonation and two counts of falsifying business records.

According to police, Keith Properties Inc., of Selbyville, hired Burkholder as a bookkeeper/officer manager in February of 2006. Police say Burkholder is accused of stealing from the business the following month. Police also say Burkholder was fired the second week of August after the alleged crimes were discovered.  The owners of the business then contacted state police and an investigation was initiated.

Police say Burkholder is accused of cashing company checks without permission; forging checks; cashing checks intended to pay bills and then keeping the money for herself; using the businesses credit cards to pay her own bills or to buy items for herself; opening up accounts without authorization; making false entries into the business records to cover up her thefts; and adding an employee's business credit card to her Paypal account.

Burkholder was released on $25,000 unsecured bond pending a preliminary hearing.