2 accused in retail thefts
A mother-daughter duo with a combined 19 prior arrests for shoplifting were both arrested again this week after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Butler store.
Employees at Kmart in the Pullman Square shopping plaza spotted Gloria Jean Cravener, 51, of Kittanning and Amanda Sue Cravener, 28, of Worthington shoplifting about 3:10 p.m. Monday, Butler police said.
“Both (suspects) appeared to be working together and were aware of what the other was doing,” according to a police affidavit.
The women were allegedly trying to hide the items. The younger Cravener was stuffing her bra and purse with goods, court documents said,
When they tried to leave, employees stopped them. Police said mother and daughter had a total of $223 in merchandise between them.
A search of Amanda Cravener's purse also turned up a tablet of Vyvanse, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity, for which she did not have a prescription, documents said.
In their criminal complaint, police noted that the elder Cravener has nine prior shoplifting arrests and her daughter has 10 priors.Because of their criminal history, both were arraigned on felony charges of retail theft and conspiracy.Additionally, Gloria Cravener is charged with trespass, since she had been banned from the store because of an earlier shoplifting arrest there, and Amanda Cravener is charged with possession of a controlled substance.The Craveners were placed in the Butler County Prison and released Tuesday after posting $10,000 bail each.
