Local News in Brief : Program Sets Out to Curb Banking Theft
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has announced that it is starting a pilot program to reduce internal theft in the banking industry.
In a memo to prosecutors and investigators, Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Greg Thompson said the program is in response to an increase in employee thefts that has “caused alarm in banking management.”
Thompson said that, traditionally, unless a theft nets $50,000 or more, cases have not been investigated or referred to the district attorney for prosecution.
Under the pilot program, investigators will review preliminary investigations conducted by bank security personnel, Thompson said, and then present them to prosecutors, who will decide if charges will be filed.
Whenever possible, Thompson said, prosecutors will seek felony convictions in the cases, plus appropriate state prison and county jail terms, along with restitution.
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