Pet Store Employee Caught in Bone-Breaking Theft Scandal, Police Reveal

A former employee of Exceptional Pets has been arrested for allegedly stealing approximately $18,000 from the Maricopa store. Police took Omeed Parvinmehr, 34, into custody on Thursday, charging him with fraudulent schemes and theft, according to a probable cause statement.

If convicted, Parvinmehr faces a potential 20-year prison sentence for the two felony charges. The investigation commenced after Destination Pets, the parent company of Exceptional Pets, became aware that the Maricopa location had not made any business deposits for nearly two months.

Authorities reviewed video footage that reportedly showed Parvinmehr stealing cash and a check from the store’s safe. He was also seen using his mobile phone to deposit the stolen check. In addition, investigators found that Parvinmehr had deleted 48 sales records, amounting to losses of $11,586, and was accused of destroying 30 sales records independently.

In an unusual twist, it is alleged that Parvinmehr had a customer issue a check directly to him instead of to Exceptional Pets. Representatives from Destination Pets clarified that employees would never need to deposit checks into personal accounts under any circumstances.

The investigation took a significant turn when Parvinmehr admitted to the theft during a phone conversation with police, solidifying the case against him. The estimated total stolen from the business stands at $18,000.