Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are currently probing a significant case of workplace theft that allegedly involved the misappropriation of over $300,000 worth of merchandise from an Amazon Distribution Center in Upper Bern Township, Berks County. The investigation began in December 2024 when PSP troopers received a call regarding the theft which had raised suspicions among management due to its staggering monetary value.
Upon arrival at the facility located on the 3500 block of Mountain Road, troopers met with a loss prevention officer who reported ongoing issues related to thefts within the distribution center. Given the substantial worth of the stolen items, responsibility for the case was transferred to PSP investigators, who utilized surveillance footage to track the thief’s movements. The video revealed an order picker pilfering goods from the warehouse’s high-value section, an area that the suspect had no legitimate reason to access as part of their duties.
By April 2025, authorities had quantified the total loss from the theft, reporting a staggering $372,934.11 worth of items taken, which included popular electronics like Apple Watches, AirPods, Fire TV Sticks, and hard drives. During the investigation, the loss prevention officer identified the alleged thief as an Amazon employee based on their work badge.
However, a preliminary hearing held recently cast doubt on these initial assertions. It was determined that the individual identified as the thief was not the person caught on camera and, in fact, had never been employed at the Upper Bern Distribution Center. Consequently, all charges against the initially identified suspect were withdrawn.
The investigation took another turn when the loss prevention officer pointed authorities towards 23-year-old Warlyn Estevez of Reading as the likely culprit. Estevez, who had previously worked at Amazon’s Bethel warehouse, was terminated for theft in 2024. Authorities suspect that he managed to acquire employment at the Upper Bern facility by adopting the identity—including name, address, and social security number—of the original charged individual.
Estevez now faces multiple theft charges and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 18, 2026. Court records indicate he is currently free on unsecured bail set at $50,000. The case continues to unfold as state police delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this extraordinary theft.
