A security guard at Weed Beach was not only pocketing $320 worth of out-of-town entrance fees, but issuing his own receipts to hide the paper trail, police say.
gave this account of the situation, which resulted in the arrest of the security guard:
John Dugdale, 54, of 18 Archer Ln. was working as the gatehouse attendant at Weed Beach as an employee of Securitas, a private security firm that provides attendants at both Darien public beaches.
Dugdale collected $40 daily fees the town charges non-residents for daily use of Weed Beach. He was supposed to give visitors official town receipts, for which town officials would expect to see money and records of payments coming in. By giving visitors his own receipts, Dugdale avoided a paper trail.
The $320 Dugdale is thought to have stolen would amount to eight daily visitor passes.
Dugdale's undoing came from a fellow Securitas employee, who told officials about the thefts.
Dugdale later admitted to them. He told authorities that he had some big financial problems and was tempted by the money passing through his hands.
After a police investigation, a warrant was issued for Dugdale's arrest on a charge of second-degree larceny.
Dugdale was told about the warrant and turned himself in at the Police Department headquarters. He was released on a written promise to appear July 30 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
