Former Aldi Employee Accused of Pocketing $1,380 Through Fake Returns at Jupiter Store

A former cashier at the Aldi on West Indiantown Road is facing grand theft and scheme to defraud charges after Jupiter Police say she took cash from the store's registers by working the customer-return process.

Ellen Cabanas Albor, 21, turned herself in at the Jupiter Police Department on October 15 and was booked into the Palm Beach County jail, according to an arrest affidavit reported by CBS12. She declined to speak with investigators.

Police say the thefts happened between August 9 and September 11 at the store at 6707 W. Indiantown Road. An internal investigation by Aldi documented six transactions between August 9 and September 4 totaling $1,380.80. The largest, $499.15, was allegedly taken on August 31.

How the scheme allegedly worked

According to the store's district manager, Albor would process a customer return, set the merchandise on the return rack, then scan the same items again later. That allowed her to remove cash while the register drawer still appeared to balance.

A Jupiter officer reviewing surveillance video reported seeing Albor repeatedly move between her register and the return area, reach beneath the counter and place something in her pocket. The officer noted that the return area was outside the camera's view and that he did not directly see her take cash.

Written statement to managers

Aldi fired Albor on September 12 after its fraud investigation. Before that, police say, she gave store management a written statement admitting she had taken money because her family was struggling financially. In that statement she said she had been taking money for roughly four months and estimated the total at about $4,000 — well above the amount the store documented.

The charges are allegations, and Albor is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Bond and court date information was not available.