SAN ANTONIO – A cashier is accused of stealing more than $35,000 worth of lotto tickets, food, drinks and merchandise from the Step N Go where he worked.
David Delagarza, 59, is charged with third-degree felony theft after police said the store's video surveillance caught him scanning lotto ticket barcodes and keeping the winning scratch off tickets while throwing away the losers.
Police said Delagarza didn't pay for any of the tickets and that he was also captured taking food, drinks and merchandise without paying.
Ironically, Delagarza was hired out of concerns of other employees' thefts. The owner told KSAT over the phone that Delagarza had been one of her salesmen, and she thought she could trust him.
According to the arrest affidavit, Delagarza was hired in December 2017. In March, money loss was "getting out of hand," and money had to be borrowed to pay for bills.
When Delagarza was told of the money problems in May, police said, he told the owner to take out loans or he could provide one.
His comments made the owner suspicious, police said, and after checking the video surveillance, it was discovered that Delagarza had been taking the tickets and other goods.
Delagaraza said all the money from the tickets was gone when he was confronted, according to the affidavit. He also allegedly forked over $3,800 and asked that the charges be dropped.