McDonald’s manager faces charges in theft

Police say the McDonald’s manager stole money from the restaurant to pay her bills.

Staff report

CANFIELD — What police thought was an early morning burglary turned out to be an inside job.

Kristy Johnson, 32, of Youngs-town, turned herself in to Canfield police Monday on two counts of criminal damaging and one count of theft, said Detective Brian McGivern.

McGivern said Canfield police began investigating a reported theft at McDonald’s on U.S. Route 224 sometime after the store closed at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 24.

The opening manager told police upon arriving at the restaurant for her shift just before 5 a.m. Nov. 25 that she saw the side rear door was unlocked and the glass was broken out. She said the safe had been broken into, and the deposit and cash from the drawers — totaling about $3,700 — was missing, according to a police report.

Pry marks on the inside of the safe initially led police to believe that someone had forcibly gained entry, according to the report. A man who installs and repairs safes for McDonald’s conducted a physical inspection of the safe and determined that it was opened by someone using the combination, and the physical damage was done after the door was open.

Johnson, who had been a manager for about six months, told police she was one of five employees who knew the safe’s combination.

When questioned by officers, Johnson first denied any involvement but later confessed to taking the money from the store’s safe to pay gas, electric and water bills. She said she used a hammer to break the glass on the door to make the incident look like a burglary.

Assistant Police Chief Andy Bodzak said Johnson returned what was left of the money, about $340.