More than $14,000 recently was stolen from the Arnold VFW Post 2593, and Arnold Police suspect that a woman who used to work there stole it, Detective Lt. James Jones said.
He said the former employee, a 52-year-old St. Louis woman, was questioned about the theft and allegedly admitted to stealing $1,500 of the money but told police there was a “misunderstanding” about the rest of the missing money, which totaled $14,363.
The suspect reportedly said she had just borrowed the remaining $12,863 and planned to pay it back, Jones said.
Arnold VFW commander Walter “Butch” Bequette would not comment about the missing money.
The theft was reported to Arnold Police just before 10 a.m. on Dec. 9, after a manager at the VFW discovered it. Jones said the missing money was discovered during a review of the post’s books.
He said the money came from proceeds from a “Queen of Hearts” game of chance that is played at the post. He said people pay to play the game, which allows them to get a card and then if someone draws the queen of hearts that week, that person wins money. However, if no one draws the right card, the jackpot builds up for the next week’s game.
Jones said the woman was arrested Dec. 12, and Arnold Police forwarded a report about the theft to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office seeking felony stealing charges against the woman.
As of Dec. 23, no charges had been filed, he said.