GRAMERCY — A NYPD civilian employee was arrested for filching $10 money orders from the police precinct where he worked, amassing more than $16,000 over a two-year period, according to police and court documents.
Todd Barnes, 50, who worked at the 13th Precinct stationhouse in Gramercy, allegedly took the money orders from people requesting accident reports, according to the criminal complaint.
He then allegedly scratched out "NYPD" from the "payee" line and wrote in his own in more than 25 cases.
Police busted Barnes after a person who works at York Street Check Cashiers in Brooklyn told the Internal Affairs Bureau that the suspect had been cashing $10 money orders that appeared to have been altered at his store for more than two years for approximately $16,430.
When questioned by the York Street employee, Barnes allegedly said the money orders were how he was paid for "extra work."
Once police got wind of the alleged scam, they performed two undercover operations, where Barnes took the money orders without filling out a receipt and tried to cash them.
Barnes is being charged with grand larceny, forgery and falsifying business records.
