The ALMO at Newcastle has overhauled its record-keeping systems after three employees stole £19,000 of furniture and white goods by faking tenants’ orders.
According to Inside Housing:
Your Homes Newcastle has reorganised the inventory systems at its Newcastle Furniture Service, which leases essential furniture and goods to new tenants who require a furnished home.
Elaine Pendleton, a supervisor at NFS, and van drivers Scott Walker and Douglas Scott received suspended prison sentences last week after admitting the scam at Newcastle Crown Court.
Ms Pendleton, who had worked for NFS for eight years, used her position to create fake requests for furniture in the names of existing tenants, after accessing YHN records. Mr Scott and Mr Walker then faked the tenants’signatures and sold the goods on, making around £600 per month.
All three received 10-month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, and were ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
The thefts were discovered after an employee who suspected something suspicious was going on raised the issue with management. An audit was ordered revealing 43 thefts. All of the orders were created by Ms Pendleton.