As a counselor for both in-class and online stop theft classes I can tell you I have heard almost every story. One thing I had never heard of was someone committing a robbery using a trash can.

This was no novice thief. A thief who decides to look outside of the box and use a trash can is a seasoned veteran. This was a thief who had been arrested on SEVEN previous occasions for stealing. She did not learn her lesson in any of the previous seven arrests because now she has been arrested again on a felony charge after being caught stealing using a garbage can. As reported in www.wfmz.com.

The thief was one Jennifer D. Banato. The items she chose to load into her trash receptacle - men's clothing and five Xbox video games. Her hide-all - a 32-gallon garbage can. The location of the theft – Wal-Mart. The value of the items - including the garbage can -- was $151.59.

Court records revealed that Banato was out on bail after being charged with shoplifting on Nov. 8, 2012. A repeat offender to say the least, she was convicted of shoplifting in March 1990, February 1995 and December 1998 and has been arrested three other times for the crime.

I hope she is mandated to a good stop theft class and decides to stay on the straight and narrow for her remaining days.