Publix employee tells Manatee deputies he stole more than $900 in alcohol, cash from store

MANATEE -- A Publix employee was arrested Tuesday after he told a loss prevention specialist he had stolen more than $900 in cash and alcohol from the supermarket's liquor store, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Dennis Grau, 59, has worked for Publix for the past four years and has been working in the liquor store of the Publix at 2875 University Parkway, according to an arrest report.

Grau told law enforcement he would ring up a bottle of liquor at the register and then refund it so the balance owed would be $0. Then he would leave the store with the bottle and the receipt. He also said he would refund bottles and then take the money from the register and keep it.

The loss prevention specialist told law enforcement Grau had made 39 fraudulent transactions worth a total value of $570.82. She said Grau told her in an interview he had stolen $918.82, but that she didn't have evidence for that amount.

Grau told deputies that he has a drinking problem and has been going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the past 18 months.

Grau was charged with theft and is being held in the Manatee County jail on $1,500 bond.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Publix employee tells Manatee deputies he stole more than $900 in alcohol, cash from store ."