Woman Illegally Bought Gift Cards Using Company Funds, Police Say

An Easton woman is facing theft charges after police say she allegedly used her purchasing authority as an employee of a local nursing home to buy gift cards for herself at a Lower Saucon Township supermarket.

Alexis M. Smith, 24, of S. Third Street, was working as a recently-hired kitchen supervisor at Weston Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, 1896 Leithsville Road, last summer when she allegedly purchased six Visa gift cards worth hundreds of dollars for herself while buying food and supplies at the nearby Giant Food Store, Channel 69 News reported Wednesday.

The news station reported that Giant store security assisted township police in their investigation of the alleged thefts, which police say were corroborated by a review of store receipts and a comparison with Weston’s purchasing account details.

Smith has been charged with six counts of theft by deception and six counts of receiving stolen property, all of which are misdemeanors, according to county court records.

Following a preliminary arraignment before District Judge Jacqueline M. Taschner Friday night she was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $15,000 bail, according to the court records, which indicate that she was released after a third party posted $1,500 cash bail on her behalf on Saturday.

A preliminary hearing in her case is scheduled for Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.