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Employee caught stealing after going-away party

Chad Abraham

There’s nothing like a going-away party to instill guilt in a thieving employee, especially one caught red-handed.An Argentine woman stole nearly $3,000 in clothing from Boogie’s and was prepared to take the ill-begotten wardrobe back to her homeland. But on Wednesday, the day after her employer threw her a final fête, Florencia Livolsi, 19, was arrested and charged with felony theft.As Livolsi was preparing to leave Boogie’s on Wednesday morning, the store’s general manager looked in her backpack and saw a pair of purple pants priced at $168. The manager then found 17 other items that totaled $2,684, according to court papers.”I love the things they have here and I want them and that’s why I took [them],” the guest of honor told police.”After the going-away party for Livolsi, she thought, ‘How can I do this to them?'” the arrest affidavit says. It also says that Livolsi felt the business was “like family” and that Boogie’s deserved better. Asked last night if that meant she returned the items of her own accord, business owner Boogie Weinglass said, “Not exactly. The manager saw the items.”In a quick court session Wednesday, she agreed to a deal in which she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge. Livolsi was given a year of probation, 30 hours of community service, will forfeit her final paycheck as restitution and must write a letter of apology.Livolsi, who had worked with her “family” for two months, was on her way back to Argentina yesterday. It will likely be a guilt trip.Chad Abraham’s e-mail address is chad@aspentimes.com