Woman Accused Of Stealing Turns Herself In

PLYMOUTH, MI — A 66-year-old Belleville woman accused of stealing items from two downtown Plymouth stores has turned herself in and Facebook may have played a role in her decision. The woman, who is currently free pending charges from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, turned herself in on Monday to Plymouth Police.

She is accused of stealing merchandise from Home Sweet Home and Birch Wood. Lt. Jamie Grabowski said the Belleville woman returned sunglasses, watches, necklaces, rings, bracelets and other items she allegedly took from the stores on April 22, the Plymouth Observer reported.

A video of the incident allegedly showing the Belleville woman at Home Sweet Home was posted a few days after owner Carol Uber filed a police report. Uber told the newspaper she was just happy to get her merchandise back.

"Social media works,” Uber told the Observer. “I'm a believer. I never was in the past. Within an hour of posting the video, our phones started ringing."

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Plymouth-Canton Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Uber said the store video, posted on Facebook, has received more than 3.5 million views and 100,000 shares, the Observer reported. She also said the support Home Sweet Home received from the community has been stunning.

Grabowski talked with the Belleville woman before she decided to turn herself in. He told the Observer the woman brought in merchandise allegedly taken from the two stores and apologized for her actions.

Photo courtesy of the Plymouth Police Department