Police are investigating a case of internal theft resulting in a loss of roughly $38,000 to Federal Way’s Windermere Real Estate.

On July 23, staff at the real estate company called police wishing to file a report. The complainant reported that on June 15, the company discovered that a former employee had made unauthorized charges on the company’s credit card and had used company accounts to write herself personal checks.

The suspect had recently been laid off from her job due to economic hardships within the company, according to the police report. The theft was realized when a credit card bill issued to the company was received and discrepancies were noticed. An internal audit was launched.

The former employee, who is not being named because charges have not been filed, had authorized access to a company credit card and the company’s health care checking account. The suspect was authorized to use the credit card, but only for business expenses.

The internal audit revealed nearly $38,000 had been embezzled over a three-year time period. The audit unearthed approximately $25,000 in unauthorized transactions made with a company credit card. The suspect allegedly used the card to purchase personal items. She would then pay the bill using Windermere’s general fund, according to reports.

The suspect is accused of also fraudulently writing herself personal checks from a company health care account. The suspect allegedly wrote herself approximately $12,566 in checks and then deposited the money into her personal account, according to reports.

Windermere’s insurance company is covering the losses to the company, according to the police report.