A Pennsylvania woman was arrested and charged Wednesday with stealing a total of $10,000 from the Girl Scouts while serving as Cub Master and Troop Leader, NBC Philadelphia has learned.
Heather Lynn Belford allegedly used Girl Scout issued bank cards to withdraw money for personal expenses during the spring and summer of 2014, causing substantial financial losses for the 103-year-old organization.
The 30-year-old turned herself in on Wednesday at a Montgomery County court and was charged with felony theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and theft by deception, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Upper Providence police were alerted to the thefts last July, detective Raymond Bechtel told the newspaper.
From as early as June 2014, Belford allegedly made 13 unauthorized transactions using a PNC Bank card while she was Committee Chair and Cub Master of Cub Scout Pack 27, taking a total of $3,411.28, NBC Philly reported.
Police said she also used a TD Bank card and made another 41 unapproved transactions while she was Troop Leader of Girl Scout Troop 7343. The withdrawals totaled $7,318.88 in losses for both the group and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Belford was held on $5,000 bail following her Wednesday arraignment. The District Attorney's Office is to ask for restitution, the station reported.
The former Troop Leader's next court date is scheduled for Feb. 4.
