Iowa City Pancheros employee accused of theft from business

IOWA CITY - A Pancheros employee is accused of stealing $3,500 from the business earlier this year.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, on Jan. 16 around 5:42 a.m., a suspect unlocked and entered Pancheros, 32. S. Clinton St. Once inside, the suspect used an employee code to open the cash register and safes, police said.

Authorities said the suspect left the store with more than $3,500 in cash.

Police said Lonnisha I. Anderson, 24, of Iowa City was one of 'a very few” employees who had keys to the store and knew how to access the register and safe. Surveillance footage shows a person who looks like Anderson inside the restaurant, police said.

Anderson was arrested and faces charges of third-degree burglary and second-degree theft, both Class D felonies. If convicted of both offenses, she faces up to 10 years in prison.