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Loomis Business Loses Tens Of Thousands To Embezzlement

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) -A business in Loomis has lost tens of thousands of dollars to embezzlement.

Placer County Sheriff's detectives say 54-year old Laurie Sayre from Sparks, Nevada, allegedly embezzled $65,000 from the unidentified business starting in October of 2015.

Sayre was arrested on Thursday and booked into the Placer County Jail, but has since posted bail.

CBS13 spoke with a financial expert who shared his tips for how business owners can spot a less-than-honest bookkeeper.

"It's fairly easy to do, I'd say it's not super common but it does happen a lot."

Scott Alvord is a financial expert in Placer County, and knows how to identify an untrustworthy bookkeeper.

"If your bookkeeper is not wanting to take time off, if they're very resistant to you bringing in an expert to double check your books, those are tell tale signs," Alvord said.

Alvord advises all business owners to spot check their finances and to consistently ask their bookkeepers questions about invoices.

Alvord says that's how a lot of financial crimes come to light.

"Embezzlement could be happening, people could be stealing from you and you won't know it. A lot of times it's a little bit at a time and it really adds up," Alvord added.

That's what Placer County Sheriff's detectives say happened in Sayre's case.

According to detectives, Sayre was hired six years ago as a bookkeeper for the unidentified business.

Sayre began embezzling money from the business in October of 2015 and continued to steal money until her arrest on Thursday.

Many business owners put too much trust into the hands of their accountants and bookkeepers, according to Alvord, and that's why he suggests bring diligent in checking a bookkeeper's background.

"Have a good list of references and check them. Don't be lazy and take the cheapest one. Ask questions about who is reputable and talk to their clients. It's your business and you really have to trust somebody."

Placer County detectives are now investigating whether Sayre cheated additional businesses around Placer County, while running her bookkeeping service.

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