Police: Woman Used Bogus Check to Steal from Bank

A 19-year-old woman is accused of stealing more than $4,000 from the First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union by drawing cash out of her account from a deposited check that turned out to be bogus, according to court records.

Rebecca O. Vega, who has no known address, was charged with one count each of felony theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

According to court records:

A $5,000 check was deposited into Vega’s account in the automated teller machine at the branch at 257 Brodhead Road on November 30. The bank put a seven-day hold on the check, which allowed the funds to become available on December 9.

On December 9, Vega went to the Allentown branch and removed $3,000 from her account at a drive-through window at a little before 9:30 a.m. Seven minutes later, she was inside that branch and withdrawing another $1,345.

Later on December 9, the check was returned to the bank and marked “account closed.”

Vega was taken into custody by Colonial Regional Police on Friday morning and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail following her arraignment before District Justice James Narlesky.