Cops: Cashier faked returns, kept cash

A cashier at an Oceanside organic food store who allegedly faked store returns, then pocketed the cash, was arrested on Saturday.

Nassau police said Martha Diaz, 38, of Malverne, had been stealing from Jandi's Natural Market & Organic Cafe in Oceanside since Sept. 11, 2009.

Diaz created phony returns, and either pocketed the cash or credited the money to her store credit account, Det. Sgt. John Harvey of Nassau's 4th Squad said.

She also stole boxes of garbage bags and paper towels, which she piled in black garbage bags and took from the store, Harvey said.

Over roughly seven months, Diaz stole over $1,200, Harvey said.

The store became suspicious and reviewed their security videos and checked business records, focusing in on Diaz before calling police, Harvey said.

Diaz was arrested at her Malverne home on Saturday and charged with felony grand larceny, forgery, and falsifying business records, and a misdemeanor, petit larceny. She is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead today.