BUTLER TWP — A 33-year-old Butler mother accused of shoplifting last week told police that she did it because she had no money to buy her son a birthday gift, according to court papers.

But most of what 33-year-old Stephanie Ann McCormick allegedly took at the Butler Commons’ Walmart did not seem like an appropriate present for a boy.

Police said she was caught about 3:30 p.m. Friday allegedly taking several packages of men’s boxers, women’s underwear and a tank top, moisturizer and deodorant.

Those items, as well as two Minecraft books, were in McCormick’s purse after a security employee stopped her from leaving the store. In all, the merchandise totaled $126.

Police said she later admitted the crime.

“McCormick advised it was her son’s birthday,” documents said, “and she does not have any money to buy him anything. She wanted to get him something nice.”

During her arraignment Saturday, she told District Judge Sue Haggerty that she is the single mother of two children, ages 11 and 13.

This was not the first time McCormick was caught allegedly shoplifting. Police noted in their criminal complaint that she has five prior convictions for the crime.

Court record showed those previous cases were between 2004 and 2012 in Butler and Allegheny counties.

Because she is a repeat offender with at least two prior convictions, McCormick is charged with a felony count of retail theft.

Following her arraignment, she was placed in the Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail.