Mother, daughter arrested for Big Lots scam

A mother and daughter were arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from their employer through a credit card scheme, according to police.

Bobbette Deeanne Hobbs, 45, and Ashely Chennise Hobbs, 24, were arrested Tuesday on charges of second-degree theft and second-degree fraud.

A representative for Big Lots, a retail company in the 4300 block of Merle Hay Road, had contacted police after the pair confessed to the scheme during the company's internal investigation, a police report stated.

Officers learned that the two employees would ring-up merchandise before crediting their own personal credit cards. That disguised the transaction as a legitimate return of merchandise from an actual customer.

Big Lots estimated nearly $10,000 had been stolen between Nov. 13 and Dec. 14. The company had video footage of the incidents and an itemized list of merchandise the two allegedly stole.

When a Des Moines police officer interviewed the younger Ashley Hobbs, she "broke down in tears" and told the officer she "only did it to help out my grandma," the report stated. Ashley Hobbs later stated she had purchased several gifts for friends, family and that "all the money I took" was gone.

Both women are being held at the Polk County Jail on $10,000 bond each.