Tara L. Podemski

WARSAW — A Warsaw woman was sentenced today, Wednesday, March 21, in Kosciusko Superior Court II after stealing merchandise from Meijer in 2017.

Tara Louise Podemski, 22, 2232 E. Jefferson St., Warsaw, was charged with theft, a level 6 felony.

On July 9, 2017, Meijer officials notified police that two males and a female had stolen $1,253.14 worth of camping equipment earlier in the day and had returned to the store in an attempt to steal more merchandise.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the three individuals filled two shopping carts with merchandise, then pushed the carts into the garden center.

One of the male individuals attempted to distract a garden center employee while Podemski and the other male pushed the carts past the checkout counters.

Further investigation showed that the three individuals had completed three additional thefts, with the same method being used. These incidents occurred on June 24, June 25 and July 8. Items stolen included sporting goods, automotive, textile, food and liquor items.

Judge Torrey Bauer sentenced Podemski to serve 1 1/2 years in the Kosciusko County Jail. Part of the sentence will be served on home detention, and six months of the sentence will be served with Kosciusko County Community Corrections.

Bauer also ordered Podemski to pay $4,897.30 in restitution to Meijer.

“I hope that you’ll no longer engage in this type of behavior,” Bauer said.