Debra Pickar, an employee of Swanson's supermarket in Hoquiam has been charged with First Degree Theft in connection with allegations that she stole thousands of dollars from the store while working as a cashier. The 53 year old allegedly told police officers that within the last five years, she had taken an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 from the store, citing that she used the cash for household expenses and to help a family member. Pickar had been employed by Swanson's for over thirty years. The police were notified in early February, when a manager of Pickar's reported that she suspected that Pickar had been embezzling money. An investigation on Pickar began when reports of Pickar being seen taking money from the till at end of her shift by a co-worker. Surveillance footage shows Pickar doing what the employee reported.
Pickar got away with the money through processing orders is such a way that they did not show up on record, allowing Pickar to take a sum of money home that should have ended up in the till.
On February 16 officers with the Hoquiam Police Department went to the store location that Pickar worked at to confront her. It was there that Pickar confessed to stealing daily amounts of cash that would range from barely over $100 to small sums of $20. Pickar stated that she would pocket this money three to four days out of her five day work week.