Kina Smith

A repeat shoplifter spent her birthday Saturday behind bars after she was caught allegedly trying to make off without paying for more than $80 worth of merchandise at a Cranberry Township store.

Kina K. Smith, 35, of Mars was arraigned on a felony count of retail theft. District Judge Kevin O'Donnell remanded her to the Butler County Prison on $5,000 bond following arraignment.

Cranberry Township police said they were called to the Walmart on Route 19 about 6 p.m. after a store employee reported seeing Smith fail to scan several items, valued at a combined $85.24, at a self-checkout register. The employee stopped her once the transaction was completed.

An officer reviewed store surveillance video, police said, which showed the defendant grabbing two or three items but scanning only one of them before placing the merchandise in a bag.

Police noted in charging documents that Smith has five prior convictions for shoplifting.

Normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, retail theft in Pennsylvania 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.

It was not immediately known if Smith has an attorney.