Verizon Employee Caught Embezzling at Capitola Mall

Capitola Police successfully scoped out and arrested a man suspected of embezzling around $1,300 from the in the Capitola Mall on Saturday.

Yogesh Patel, 22, worked at the store and systematically took the money, but not without his employer noticing, according to a written statement by the Capitola Police Department.

Officer Craig Evans conducted the investigation into Patel's embezzlement, which included reviewing surveillance footage.

Patel had already been fired from his job at Verizon but was coming to the mall on Saturday at 3 p.m. to pick up his last paycheck when "Officer Evans took him into custody without incident," the PD said. 

He was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of grand theft and embezzlement.