ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Springfield, Missouri, man accused of selling stolen merchandise from his St. Louis County employer was caught after leaving his Facebook account open on his work computer.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the thefts happened between May 11 and Aug. 14, 2022.

Police said the victim, a store owner, contacted authorities and reported that Elijah Bishop, a one-time employee, had taken several sets of cards and other merchandise and sold the stolen items on Facebook Marketplace. Bishop would then keep the proceeds instead of forwarding the money to the business.

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Police said the owner learned of Bishop’s activity after Bishop left his Facebook account open on a computer at the store and the account had received a message inquiring about buying certain items from Bishop.

The total value of the stolen merchandise was $17,474.

Investigators said Bishop admitted the thefts to his employer via email. Bishop made a one-time payment of $2,425 to his employer via PayPal, but then canceled that payment.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Bishop with one count of stealing – $750 or more. A county judge issued a criminal summons for Bishop to appear in court on September 23.

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