RPD investigates local business theft

Russellville police officers are in the middle of an ongoing investigation involving theft from a local business.

The investigation began Feb. 7, according to Sgt. Jake Tompkins, at a local business. The business name is not being released yet because of the ongoing investigation.

Not long after the investigation began, Russellville Police Department arrested a suspect. RPD took Joyce Patrice Pounders, 43, Russellville, into custody.

Pounders, who was an employee of the business, has been charged with theft of property first degree for the alleged theft of thousands of dollars from the business, which Tompkins said she accrued through doing refunds and then hiding the money.

“The owners were having problems with the employee. When they noticed an issue with items being stolen, they started to look into the problem,” Tompkins said.

Tompkins said once owners started reviewing the security camera footage and other records, they began an audit, through which they discovered several thousands of dollars were missing.

“We’re still pulling video and records to add to the case,” Tompkins said.

Tompkins said the victims suspect the thefts have been going on for about six years.

Pounders was being held in the Franklin County Jail but is now out on bond.