Two Ex-Employees Charged With Stealing From Fairfield Carquest Auto Parts

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Two former employees were charged with stealing more than $10,000 in cash from Carquest Auto Parts after an internal company investigation uncovered a fraudulent return scam, Fairfield police said.

Fairfield Police charged Hector Vazquez, 41, of Bridgeport, on Jan. 29 with second-degree larceny in thefts from Carquest Auto Parts.
Photo Credit: *Fairfield Police Department*

by Alissa Smith

02/10/2014 5:00 p.m.

The thefts by the former employees occurred over a five-month period in 2013, police said. They are accused of returning unsold items to the store for cash, police said.

Hector Vazquez, 41, of Bridgeport, was charged Jan. 29 with second-degree larceny after he admitted to stealing $10,000 from the store, police said.

Stephen Chizmadia, 55, of Shelton, was charged Feb. 7 with fourth-degree larceny in connection with the theft of $1,400 from Carquest, police said.

According to the police report, Chizmadia made 14 cash refunds for unsold items in the store between June and November 2013. Vazquez completed 73 transactions starting in August through November 2013.

Vazquez posted $20,000 bond after turning himself in to police and was in court Feb. 7. No information regarding his court appearance was available.

Chizmadia turned himself in to police on an arrest warrant, posted $1,500 bond and was given a court date of Feb. 21.

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