Protecting Your Business From Employee Cash Misappropriation

Employee cash theft at money services counters is difficult to detect in real time because it exploits the same trusted access that makes the role functional. In April 2026, a supermarket employee operating a Western Union counter in Point Fortin was arrested after CCTV footage allegedly showed her receiving cash from customers, inspecting it, and placing it directly into her handbag. By the time the discrepancy was identified, $53,817 had gone unaccounted for. The theft was only surfaced through video review — not through any cash reconciliation control — meaning it had likely continued across multiple transactions before detection. Counter-based cash services are particularly vulnerable because the employee handles large sums in a normalised, routine context where small diversions can be concealed within the flow of legitimate transactions. Without a secondary verification layer, a single employee with both receipt and recording responsibilities can manipulate the record to match the cash they choose to deposit.

Steps to follow:

• Implement dual-control for all cash handling at money services counters: require a second staff member to witness and countersign counting, reconciliation, and any transaction above an internally defined threshold.
• Reconcile your agent settlement figures against the platform’s own digital transaction records at the close of every shift — do not rely solely on physical cash counts, which can be manipulated to match what is actually on hand.
• Position CCTV cameras to capture the full counter surface and the staff member’s hands during transactions; a wide-angle view of the premises is not sufficient to detect cash concealment — you need close, direct coverage of the transaction area.
• Review daily reconciliation against digital logs the same day they occur; a one-day lag limits cumulative losses and preserves CCTV footage before it is overwritten, which is critical if a formal investigation follows.
• Designate a separate storage area for employee personal bags and belongings that is physically removed from the counter; prohibit large bags, coats, or personal items at cash-handling stations during operating hours.
• Report any unexplained cash discrepancy exceeding your defined threshold to police promptly; delays intended for internal investigation allow a suspect to move or dispose of funds and reduce the value of CCTV evidence as time passes.