Ex-NY college book store worker accused of stealing $50K

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP/WSYR-TV) - Authorities say a former employee of the book store at a northern New York community college has been charged with stealing more than $50,000 from the school.

Police in Watertown tell local media outlets that 41-year-old Nancy Lear of Dexter took the money from the Jefferson Community College book store by making false computer entries that showed books in inventory that didn't exist. Officials say that allowed her to receive cash in exchange for the nonexistent books.

Police say the thefts occurred from April through November of this year. A discrepancy with the inventory was discovered by another book store employee on Nov. 30.

Lear was charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. She is free on her own recognizance.

The college president calls the incident an “extremely serious and unfortunate situation.”

Lear no longer works at the bookstore.