Amazon employee accused of stealing $300k worth of merchandise from Berks distribution center
UPPER BERN TWP., Pa. – Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are investigating a case of workplace theft they say netted the suspect over $300,000 worth of merchandise from a northern Berks County warehouse.
In December of 2024, PSP troopers were called to the Amazon Distribution Center located in the 3500 block of Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township for a reported theft.
Troopers met with a loss prevention officer who said they had been investigating numerous thefts that had occurred within the distribution center.
Due to the high dollar value of the items taken, the case was reassigned to PSP investigators. Through the use of surveillance video, troopers observed an order picker stealing items from the high retail value section of the warehouse, which was an area the suspect never had a legitimate, job-related reason to be in.
In April of 2025, authorities received a total dollar amount on the items allegedly stolen. According to court documents, the suspect removed $372,934.11 worth of products from the location, including Apple Watches, AirPods, Fire TV Sticks, and hard drives.
The warehouse’s loss prevention officer identified an Amazon employee by their work badge as the person who stole the items.
Last month, a preliminary hearing was held for the person identified as the thief. Over the course of the hearing, authorities determined that the suspect was not the person captured on video stealing from the distribution center and, in fact, did not even work there. All charges were withdrawn.
23-year-old Warlyn Estevez of Reading
A loss prevention officer from Amazon informed police that 23-year-old Warlyn Estevez of Reading may be the true identity of the person captured on video. Estevez formerly worked at Amazon’s Bethel warehouse and was fired in 2024 for theft. Authorities believe he was rehired at the Upper Bern location by using the name, address and social security number of the person originally charged in the case.
Estevez is charged with multiple counts of theft and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 18. 2026. Online court records list him as free on $50,000 unsecured bail.
