Hinsdale Suspect Cites 'Foolish Mistakes' After Stealing From Employer: Police

HINSDALE, IL – A Westmont woman pocketed more than $2,000 from the cash register over a few weeks at her Hinsdale retail job, later citing "foolish mistakes," local police said.

After she was terminated, she demanded $15,000 in what she said were unpaid wages, according to a police report obtained through a public records request.

On June 3, police were called to Hinsdale News Agency, 24 E. Hinsdale Ave., a newsstand and general store.

Officers were told that Gail Lupia, 66, who had worked at the store for nine months, had been taking money from the register and putting it in her pocket, police said.

The security cameras only went back to May 14. Through an investigation, police documented 143 instances on the camera in which she stole money, totaling $2,227, according to the report.

The woman's employment ended shortly after police were called June 3. A couple of days later, Hinsdale News Agency received an envelope under the door, containing a $3,000 check from Lupia, police said.

The envelope contained a note that stated, "Please don't hurt (redacted) for my foolish mistakes. I am all he has to take care of him, his family doesn't care and he is broke. So take this and I don't want a check or deserve it. I only care about him, and he shouldn't have to suffer due to my illness."

Police said the message was signed "G."

On June 26, an officer spoke with Lupia on the phone, but she said she would decline to give a statement.

Unsolicited, though, she said she gave the store owner money "if she had thought I had done something," according to the report.

She also told the officer that she didn't get her final paycheck, the report said.

On Aug. 4, a letter was delivered to Hinsdale News Agency from attorney R. Daniel Lyons, who represents Lupia, police said.

The letter demanded $15,000 in unpaid wages for Lupia, police said.

Asked about the letter Thursday, Lyons said there was a lot more to the situation than that. He asked Patch to email him an inquiry, which Patch did.

On Aug. 11, Lupia was charged with felony theft ranging from $500 to $10,000, police said. She showed up to the police station with her lawyer.

She was released until her trial, which has not been set.

In 2015, Lupia was charged with two counts of burglary and another count of theft from $500 to $10,000 in Downers Grove, according to DuPage County Court records.

The records indicated she pleaded guilty under a plea agreement, in which prosecutors decided against prosecuting.