Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a major case of workplace theft that has allegedly resulted in over $300,000 in stolen merchandise from an Amazon distribution center located in Upper Bern Township, Berks County. The inquiry began last December after authorities were alerted to a series of thefts at the facility on Mountain Road.
During the investigation, a loss prevention officer informed the police about suspicious activities they had observed within the distribution center. Due to the significant value of the stolen items, the case was elevated to state police investigators, who meticulously reviewed surveillance footage from the site.
The footage revealed a person operating an order picker to steal high-value items from a section of the warehouse that the individual was not authorized to access. In April, investigators estimated that the total value of the stolen goods amounted to an alarming $372,934.11. These items included sought-after electronics such as Apple Watches, AirPods, Fire TV Sticks, and various hard drives.
Initially, a preliminary hearing took place for an individual identified as a suspect. However, it soon became evident that this person was not the individual captured on camera and did not work at the warehouse, leading to the withdrawal of all charges against them.
The loss prevention officer subsequently identified 23-year-old Warlyn Estevez from Reading as the suspect seen in the surveillance footage. Estevez was previously employed at Amazon’s Bethel warehouse but was terminated in 2024 due to theft allegations. Authorities suspect he might have been re-hired at the Upper Bern location by using the personal details of the individual originally charged in connection with the thefts.
Estevez now faces several counts of theft and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 18, 2026. His online court records show that he is currently released on $50,000 unsecured bail. The investigation into this extensive theft continues, raising critical questions regarding workplace security and the policies in place to prevent the re-hiring of individuals with a history of theft. Police and local authorities are committed to addressing this unsettling case of workplace crime.