Winona Lake Man Jailed After Allegedly Stealing From Employer

Kenneth Doberstein

A Winona Lake man was arrested Friday after allegedly stealing money from an armored car service company.

Kenneth James Doberstein, 30, of 1514 Chesnut Ave., #1, Winona Lake, is charged with theft, a Level 6 felony.

Doberstein was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10:57 a.m. Friday, with a $10,000 preliminary bond.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Friday a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a theft. The deputy arrived at Loomis Armored Car Service and spoke to a man who said loss prevention had been conducting an investigation into a theft from the business, which happened between October and December. The man provided documentation of $23,060 in U.S. currency that had been stolen.

According to court documents, Loomis had narrowed the investigation to an employee identified as Doberstein, who provided a statement admitting he stole the money from the business.

Deputies interviewed Doberstein after reading him his Miranda Rights. Doberstein agreed to speak with law enforcement.

During the interview, Doberstein admitted on multiple occasions he shorted an ATM machine of money while refilling the machine. He said when he would fill the machine, he would leave a bundle of $20 bills, which contained $2,000. Doberstein would then place the money in his jogging pants worn under his outer clothing to elude detection by Loomis when exiting the business, according to court documents.

Doberstein said he stole the $2,000 bundles using the same method an estimated 10 times between October and Dec. 8. He admitted to paying for past due utility bills, rent,  car payments and Christmas gifts with the stolen money, according to court documents.