Five Best Buy employees were arrested last week for first- or second-degree theft after stealing $45,000 worth of merchandise from the Silverdale store.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to Best Buy on Ridgetop Boulevard Thursday, July 17 regarding a complaint of employee theft and embezzlement.

The five suspects were experienced Best Buy employees, having worked at the store for several years, according to a police report.

The group conducted fraudulent returns of non-existent items and kept the money. They also made unauthorized purchases by utilizing their employee discount privileges to buy items for friends and family members as well as buying merchandise at the employee price and later returning the items to the store for a full retail refund, the police report states.

The five employees also would pose as store security at an exit door and allow people to leave with electronic items without seeing a receipt as proof of purchase. They also stole items including DVDs and CDs.

Four of the suspects, ages 26, 22, 21 and 23 were arrested July 17. The fifth suspect, a 23-year-old, was arrested July 18. All five suspects have been released from Kitsap County Jail, but the investigation continues.