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Union Today
By the People, for the People
La Grande Woman Arrested for Identity Theft, Forgery at Local Copy Shop
Alona Marie Berecz accused of stealing coworkers' IDs and committing multiple crimes at former employer
Published on Mar. 1, 2026
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A 31-year-old woman from La Grande, Oregon named Alona Marie Berecz was arrested on February 14, 2026 by the La Grande Police Department on charges of theft, identity theft, and forgery. Berecz, a former employee of a local copy shop called Copies Plus CP Espresso, is accused of copying and stealing the IDs of several coworkers and committing various crimes over several months.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing problem of identity theft and fraud, especially when perpetrated by insiders with access to sensitive personal information. The incident also raises concerns about security protocols and employee oversight at small businesses that handle personal documents.
The details
According to police, officers were initially called to Copies Plus on February 13 for a theft report. During the investigation, they found multiple documents linking Berecz to various crimes over the past several months, including forgery, identity theft, and theft. Berecz was a former employee at the copy shop. She was arrested the next day on charges including Forgery I (10 counts), Identity Theft (7 counts), Theft I, Theft II (3 counts), and Theft III. The Union County Sheriff's Office also filed additional charges against Berecz, including Computer Crime/Fraud-Felony, Forgery II, Identity Theft/Fraud-Counterfeit, and Theft II.
- On February 13, 2026, police were initially called to Copies Plus for a theft report.
- On February 14, 2026, Berecz was arrested by the La Grande Police Department.
The players
Alona Marie Berecz
A 31-year-old woman from La Grande, Oregon who was a former employee of Copies Plus CP Espresso and is accused of stealing coworkers' IDs and committing various crimes.
La Grande Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that investigated the crimes and arrested Berecz.
Union County Sheriff's Office
The county law enforcement agency that also filed additional charges against Berecz.
Copies Plus CP Espresso
The local copy shop where Berecz was formerly employed and allegedly committed the crimes.
What’s next
Berecz is scheduled for a plea hearing on March 13, 2026 in Union County Circuit Court.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the importance of small businesses implementing robust security protocols and employee oversight measures to prevent insider theft and fraud, which can have serious consequences for both the business and its customers.
