BUTLER TWP — A repeat shoplifter landed in hot water after she allegedly tried to use cakes of ramen noodles to her advantage.

Butler Township police said Brooke M. Kobert, 32, of Summit Township cooked up the scheme last weekend at the Walmart at the Butler Commons shopping plaza.

Kobert on Saturday allegedly used two UPC bar code labels that she removed from a box of ramen noodles to purchase more expensive merchandise, including clothing, while at the self-checkout aisle.

The defendant “would cover the UPC symbols (of the other items) with her hands while she scanned (those items),” according to court documents, “making it appear that she was buying ramen noodles instead of clothing and the other food items.”

Employees caught onto the suspected UPC switching scam, police said, when they noticed her register showing an inordinate number of beef ramen noodle purchases.

Kobert was stopped before she left the store. In all, documents said, she tried to get away with $257.99 worth of unpaid-for merchandise.

Police in their criminal complaint noted that Kobert has three prior convictions for shoplifting.

Because of her record, she is charged with a third-degree felony count of retail theft, which under state law is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

Kobert remains free on her own recognizance while awaiting her preliminary hearing March 22.