Kroger employee accused in $3,000 gift-card theft

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A Fort Wayne woman was charged with theft after police say she stole more than $3,000 while working for Kroger.

Over an eight-month period, Direesa R. Yates, 23, of the 4700 block of Heatherwind Drive, loaded 38 gift cards with $3,003.96 she didn’t pay for, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Court documents did not identify which Kroger store. When police interviewed Yates about the thefts, she confessed, court papers said.

She was released from the Allen County Lockup on Wednesday on her own recognizance.