Man admits to stealing $750 from Domino’s
Smith
A pizza store heist reported in March was an inside job, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Brandon Scott Smith, 26, of Southeast Baya Drive, was arrested Tuesday on felony burglary and grand theft charges after deputies say he broke into the Domino’s store where he worked and stole several hundred dollars from the safe.
Around 9:36 a.m. March 4, CCSO responded to a burglary reported at Domino’s off West U.S. Highway 90.
An employee told deputies he arrived for his shift about half an hour prior, at which time he noticed the safe under the counter was open, according to a CCSO report. He said he didn’t think anything of it at first, figuring another worker left it open overnight.
But after taking a closer look, the employee noticed all the cash, totaling about $753.83, was missing. Surveillance footage from around 4:30 a.m. the same day showed someone entering the store, opening the safe and stealing the money before fleeing.
The thief, who wore a hoodie, jeans and dark-colored shoes, could be seen in the recording unlocking the front door. The business had no cameras outside.
The employee who spoke to deputies said only himself and four other workers had access to the safe. But only one fit the thief’s build, he said, naming Smith.
Deputies traveled to Smith’s home on Southeast Baya Drive.
Smith denied the allegations against him, claiming he had not left his home during the timeframe of the burglary.
Smith said he’d been working at Domino’s for two years and would never steal from the business, the report states, but indicated he was struggling financially due to having to pay to get back his driver’s license.
When asked if he had any cash on him, Smith pulled $190 out of his front-left pocket, counting the money out loud, according to the report.
He claimed it was left over from his paycheck.
After receiving permission to search the home, deputies found no more cash but did find a hoodie matching the one worn by the burglar, according to the report.
On March 6, a Domino’s corporate director told deputies Smith confessed to the theft during an internal investigation, the report states.
Smith later admitted the same to law enforcement, providing CCSO a sworn statement detailing the burglary, according to the report.
Only $367 of the stolen cash was found and placed into evidence, the report states.
Smith was not arrested right then and there because he fully cooperated with deputies, the report states.
A warrant affidavit for criminal charges was instead filed with the State Attorney’s Office, which eventually yielded Tuesday’s arrest.