Store employee arrested in alleged theft

A Pine Bluff woman was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly gave away merchandise to a former employee at the store where she worked.

Aquaya Perkins, 21, worked at Madrag in the Jefferson Square Shopping Center, and according to a probable cause affidavit from Pine Bluff Police Department Detective Billy Robertson, was recorded on security video giving the items away Aug. 27.

Robertson said in the affidavit that the store manager told police the thefts began in May and continued until Tuesday, with an estimated loss of $2,100.

When Perkins was interviewed, she said she had worked at the store for seven months and over the last three months had either given away the merchandise to the other employee or sold it at half price.

Perkins allegedly told police she did it because the other employee “wanted to get back at management because she felt looked over at promotion time.”

Robertson reported that Perkins also said “she would not have done it if the other person had not asked.”

Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set a $2,500 bond for Perkins, who had no prior convictions or pending charges after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge her with theft of property.

The Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Perkins.