EMPLOYEE ADMITS TO STEALING $61

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- It won't be a good Christmas for one Walmart employee, who admitted to authorities she stole money because she wanted to have a good Christmas.

Around 7 p.m. Wednesday, officer Mike Reep responded to Walmart at 401 N. Generals Boulevard to reports of larceny by employee.

He was told by management that Brittney Lingerfelt, 19, Riverview Road, had been keeping cash from coupons and had been ringing up checks for over the amount, also keeping the cash.

When asked by Reep, Lingerfelt admitted to taking the money.

"I took money that ain't mine," said Lingerfelt in the LPD incident report.

Lingerfelt also issued a statement prior to her arrest, that she meant to take $66 but ended up taking $61 instead.

"There is no good reason. I just wanted to have a good Christmas this year," her statement read. "But (I) made poor decisions to have a good one."

Lingerfelt was charged with larceny by employee and jailed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $4,000 secured bond. According to www.lincolnsheriff.org, Lingerfelt has made bond and been released.