Butler police arrested a city woman after she allegedly stole merchandise from two downtown stores Sunday afternoon.

The suspect, Loriann McKinney, has 12 prior convictions for shoplifting, police said.

Because of her criminal record, McKinney was arraigned on two counts of felony retail theft and placed in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.

Police were called about 12:35 p.m. to the Rite Aid on South Main Street, where McKinney was spotted taking six unspecified items from the store. The merchandise totaled $21.94.

She left but authorities knew who they were looking for, according to court documents, since McKinney had shown her identification to a pharmacy clerk while at the store.

Police shortly after 1 p.m. found her on a bench in front of the Dollar General store on North Main Street. She was arrested after admitting the Rite Aid theft, documents said.

But while in the patrol car, police said, she pulled out two clothing items from her waistband, admitting she had stolen them from the Dollar General.

In all, she is accused of taking 10 items, valued at $31.65, from Dollar General.

While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft is upgraded to a third-degree felony regardless of the stolen property’s value when a defendant has at least two prior arrests for the same crime.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.