Wanted: Woman accused of stealing from produce stand
/A warrant was issued July 14 for a Bloomington woman following a May 2 incident in which she failed to pay for items at a local produce stand.
When Lighthouse Produce is closed, the business operates under an honesty box. Customers can purchase items and place the proper amount of money in the honesty box. Theresa Winkles was caught on camera at the business in Switz City taking $120 worth of items while only depositing $10 in the honesty box.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy Harvey Holt of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Winkles was identified after Gregg Roudebush, who runs the produce operation, shared a photo on Facebook.
On May 19, Roudebush received a handwritten letter from Winkles apologizing. She stated she was distracted due to a memorial service she was attending that day. She also included $100. Winkles said she was made aware of what she had done after a friend contacted her regarding the post on Facebook.
Deputy Anthony Nelson of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department interviewed Winkles via telephone regarding the incident. She admitted it was her on the video recording and claimed she was distracted that day. She told Nelson she noticed what she had done when she went to pay for other services. She said she mixed up two stacks of money. She told Nelson she didn’t know the exact amount but that she had paid the rest of the amount due plus extra. Nelson informed her she still owed $10.
Roudebush later received another letter from Winkles containing $10 and another apology. This time, Winkles stated she suffered from a memory disorder.
In the probable cause affidavit, Holt noted that at no time from between May 1 until the time she was identified on Facebook by a friend did Winkles attempt to contact the business to make payment. Contact was made only after she was identified on Facebook.
Winkles has a prior conviction of theft from 2019 in Monroe County.
Upon her arrest, she will be charged with theft with a prior conviction of theft, a Level 6 Felony.