Woman Told Police Cart of Items Were 'Christmas Presents'

A 26-year-old Milwaukee woman, who told police the items she was stealing from a local retail store were her daughter’s Christmas presents, was charged with one count of felony retail theft in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Dec. 21.

According to the Greenfield Police Department report, Melissa Friedrichs tried to leave Target 4777 S. 27th St. with $730 worth of items Dec. 19, before being stopped by a store employee.

When police arrived and asked Friedrichs about the items in her cart, she told them she was getting Christmas gifts for her daughter.

The items included numerous baby items, clothing items, health and beauty cosmetics, home décor, stationary, office supplies, toys and other miscellaneous items.

Friedrichs already had a felony warrant for her arrest through the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office for another retail theft case. Those charges were filed Dec. 10, just nine days before the Greenfield Target incident.

Friedrichs was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after Greenfield police found tin caps, capped needles and a rubber tie-off band in her purse.