Bagging Bling Without Buying Lands Woman Behind Bars, Police Say

A Sturtevant woman is in custody after police say she tried to get away with several hundred dollars worth of jewelry - and even some housewares - from Kohl's.

Karen Jepson, 55, was charged Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court with one count of felony retail theft. If convicted, she could face up to 3-1/2 years in jail and/or up to $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, loss prevention personnel at the store observed Jepson and another woman go into the jewelry department pushing a cart already full of merchandise. The women were observed taking bracelets out of packages and putting them on their wrists and in their purses.

Security reports indicate Jepson and the other woman went into dressing rooms. While they were in the dressing rooms, security persons called Mount Pleasant Police. Another store associate checked the dressing room after Jepson and the woman exited and reported that they found empty jewelry cards but not anything else.

Jepson and her friend exited the store with the full shopping cart and without stopping to try and pay for any of the merchandise. Loss prevention staff say they approached the pair to ask them to return to the store to discuss some Kohl's merchandise. The women complied and once inside the office with MPPD officers, removed a number of stolen items from their wrists and purses.

Store security says in their report that Jepson and her friend were also responsible for stealing $1,300 worth of in jewelry on Jan. 6 but were unable to apprehend the pair. Upon questioning, though, the women admitted their previous trip to the store.

Jepson will have her preliminary hearing on Jan. 22 before Court Commissioner Alice A. Rudebusch.