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Two women arrested Friday on suspicion of stealing thousands of dollars from a Steamboat Springs hotel allegedly did so by keeping former employees on the payroll and cashing their checks for themselves.

Angela Ellen Robinson, 41, of Steamboat and Sandra Yanira McMahon, 43, of Steamboat allegedly stole about $39,000 from the Hampton Inn and Suites using that method, according to arrest warrants.

Both worked at the hotel at the time of the alleged thefts. Robinson was hotel manager, and McMahon was director of housekeeping.

Steamboat police officers arrested the women Friday on suspicion of theft and forgery. Robinson and McMahon face Class 3 felony theft charges and two counts of felony forgery.

According to the arrest warrant, a part-owner of the Hampton Inn and Suites who lives in Texas learned about the theft of company funds in August and came to Steamboat to investigate.

He allegedly discovered that Robinson and McMahon kept former employees on the payroll and forged the signatures of those employees to endorse the checks to themselves, according to the arrest warrants.

The suspects used the checks of 10 former employees, the warrants indicate. The part-owner questioned the women, who allegedly admitted their involvement.

Robinson allegedly forged and cashed 44 checks totaling $30,724.67 between Dec. 16, 2004, and Aug. 3, 2005. McMahon allegedly forged and cashed 15 checks for $8,305.61 between Dec. 1, 2004, and July 6, 2005.

The women have bonded out of Routt County Jail. A case review is scheduled for March 2, 2006.

Steamboat Springs police Capt. Joel Rae said he had no comment about the case.

-- To reach Susan Cunningham, call 871-4203 or e-mail scunningham@steamboatpilot.com