Former teller arrested in bank theft probe

  A former window teller for a Wellton bank is being held in the Yuma County jail on suspicion of stealing more than $30,000 from customers' accounts.

  The total amount of money allegedly stolen by Tanya Williams, 34, could climb, depending on whether additional victims are located, said Wellton Police Chief Keith W. Titus.

  "I can't guarantee it, but I'm going to guess there are unknown victims," he said. "We're hoping that if there are, they'll come forward."

  National Bank of Arizona has covered the losses of those victims identified so far, police said.

  Williams, an east county resident, was arrested Thursday by Wellton police after a six-month investigation initiated by the bank, police said.

  Williams, who police said worked at the branch from 2005 to 2008, is being held in the jail in Yuma on suspicion of fraud, forgery, taking the identity of another, criminal simulation and felony theft.

  How the thefts took place and over what period they occurred remain under investigation, Titus said. He said he could not comment further on those details.

  The bank began an investigation after discovering Williams was "compromising" customer accounts, police said, and then contacted Police Officer David Rodriguez.

  Titus declined to say under what circumstances Williams left her job as a window teller at the bank. Bank officials could not be reached Friday night for comment.

  The bank helped in the followup investigation that led to police serving a search warrant in Roll on Thursday, followed by Williams' arrest.

  Police are urging any customers with the Wellton branch to call the bank service line, 1-800-497-8168, if they believe their accounts have been compromised.