Police Say Supermarket Worker Stole $122K

By Tim Hahn, Erie Times-News, Pa.

Sep. 30–EDINBORO — A former employee of the Giant Eagle supermarket in Edinboro has been charged with stealing more than $122,000 over a 13-month period.

Georgea V. Opsanic, 56, of the 12200 block of Lay Road, was arraigned before District Judge Denise Stuck-Lewis of Edinboro on charges of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and receiving stolen property. Both charges are third-degree felonies.

Edinboro Police Chief Jeff Craft said Opsanic took $122,070.39 in cash deposits from the store and kept it for her personal use.

Craft said Opsanic took the money while working for the store as a confidential secretary, which is an executive secretary position in which the person works closely with the owner.

The Art Smaltz family owns the Edinboro Giant Eagle, at 606 Erie St., which is Route 99 in the borough.

The thefts happened between July 2004 and August, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

Police accused Opsanic of taking money received at the store and keeping it, rather than making the required deposits into the store’s account at Community National Bank in Edinboro.

Opsanic was questioned about the missing money and made a written statement acknowledging that she stole the cash deposits, according to the complaint. She was fired from the store in late August.

An internal audit by the company’s security director revealed that the amount of cash stolen was $122,070.39, Craft said.

Opsanic was released on her own recognizance after her arraignment Thursday and will appear in court for a preliminary hearing at a later date. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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