Local

Employees accused of stealing $180K worth of Pepsi product

ATLANTA —
Employees are accused of stealing nearly $200,000 worth of Pepsi product from a northwest Atlanta distribution center.

"Current and former employees were stealing large quantities of their product from the distribution center," Atlanta police Sgt. Greg Lyon told Channel 2's Shae Rozzi.
   
After watching security footage over the last few months, Pepsi contacted private investigators and Atlanta police for help.

Officers arrested Bernard Njenga, who was working as a security guard, and helped Kelvin Jermaine Carter load cases of stolen Pepsi into personal cars, a police report said. Kevin Crowner and Nathan Rolle were also arrested.

The biggest hit involved two pallets worth $3,600 being taken away in a van. The van was spotted at the Underground Parking Deck, where it was abandoned for at least eight hours. Then, the private investigator followed it to a strip mall in Smyrna.

"They could be selling it at a discount," Lyon said.

Lyon said the loss for the company so far this year totals more than $180,000. Pepsi had little to tell Channel 2 Action News about the incident. 

"We're cooperating with local authorities on an investigation and cannot comment further at this time," a company representative said in a statement.