Sussex Woman Charged After Trying to Steal Food for a Family Cookout

A 26-year-old Sussex woman is facing charges after she got caught trying to steal food from a Waukesha Pick ‘n Save for a family cookout.

Nia L. Rivera was charged in Wednesday with one count of retail theft. If convicted, she faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Aug. 9, Rivera went to the located at 220 E. Sunset Drive and filled her shooping cart with a large amount of food, which prompted a security officer to be suspicious of her. He became more suspicious because she then began to pace in front of the exit with the shopping cart.

She then walked out of the store with the food and the security officer immediately apprehended her.

Rivera said she came to the store with a friend to go shopping for a family cookout and planned to buy the food with food stamps, but they became nervous and scared and then decided to steal the food instead.

Rivera will make her initial appearance in court Nov. 23.