The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA

November 3, 2009

Mother, daughter hold public signs of shame


BEDFORD (AP) — A woman and her daughter were outside a western Pennsylvania courthouse holding signs saying they stole a gift card from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday.

Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins says in exchange for 56-year-old Evelyn Border and 35-year-old Tina Griekspoor, both of Bedford, agreeing to hold the signs, he'll ask for probation instead of jail when they plead guilty.

The signs read: "I stole from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday! Don't steal or this could happen to you!" The mother and daughter were outside the courthouse for 4 1/2 hours Tuesday.

Higgins says they swiped a gift card which the girl set on a shelf while a WalMart employee helped her.

The girl's mother planned to drive by the courthouse to teach her daughter the importance of obeying the law.