Staff Report

Kaila Lynn Barlow

WARSAW — A Wabash woman was recently arrested after allegedly using her former employer’s credit card for more than $5,000 of personal purchases.

Kaila Lynn Barlow, 31, 1441 E. 200N, Wabash, is charged with theft, a level 6 felony.

On Sept. 13, a Warsaw Police officer was informed by representatives for Home Helpers LLC about a former employee using a business credit card to purchase personal items.

On June 13, Barlow was hired to run the Marion branch of Home Helpers LLC. As part of her position, Barlow was issued a credit card to be used only for work-related gas expenses.

According to court documents, during Barlow’s employment, it was discovered that Barlow was clocking in but not performing any work. After Barlow was fired, Home Helpers LLC employees discovered several unauthorized purchases on the credit card account that were not gasoline.

Barlow also failed to return a work printer to Home Helpers LLC after her termination. While looking through a cellphone that had been issued to Barlow, one of Home Helpers’ employees discovered several photographs of individuals’ Social Security numbers. The employee also discovered Barlow created Venmo and PayPal accounts linked to her work email and attached the company credit card to these accounts.

The work email also received a message from PayPal stating Barlow purchased airline tickets on Sept. 9. Over 90 transactions were listed for the credit card, many of which were not gasoline purchases.

One of the employees also told the officer Barlow clocked in on days when she said she would not be at work.

On Sept. 15, a Warsaw detective traveled to North Manchester to interview Barlow.

Barlow said she was hired by Home Helpers LLC in June and let go in September. Barlow admitted to using the Home Helpers credit card to purchase makeup and also linked the credit card to her Venmo and PayPal accounts.

In addition to the unauthorized makeup purchases, Barlow admitted to using the business credit card to pay for a trip to Noblesville. She also said she used the card to pay for a hotel room, clothes, groceries, two car payments, Amazon purchases, Apple music and airline tickets.

Barlow also said she clocked in twice during the same time and got paid double.

The total unauthorized charges to the Home Helpers credit card, made by Barlow between Aug. 4 and Sept. 11, were in excess of $5,000.

Barlow was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31, with a $3,250 surety and cash bond.