Woman Who Robbed 3 Banks While 8 Months Pregnant Gets 4 Years

A Wisconsin woman who police say conducted three robberies while she was more than eight months pregnant was sentenced to four years prison this week.

Lisa M. Harding, 32, was charged with three counts of robbery, and was convicted on two counts. The third count was read into the record, and the judge ordered her to pay back the money stolen in the third robbery.

According to police, Harding staged the robberies on Dec. 13, 2016 in Madison, and was caught by police after she took a taxi from the last robbery.

A Wisconsin State Journal report indicated that police had to get a search warrant for a cavity search on Harding, because she apparently concealed some of the money stolen from U.S. Bank inside her body.

According to police reports of the robberies, Harding implied she had a weapon, but did not display it. The first robbery was at Associated Bank on Dec. 5, followed by robberies at Old National Bank on Dec. 10 and U.S. Bank on Dec. 13, 2016. Police said that red dye on her fingers seen after her arrest linked her to the Old National Bank robbery.

According to court records, Harding has a lengthy criminal record that includes charges of retail theft, drug possession, bail jumping and a previous robbery.

According to the State Journal report, Harding gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who was put up for adoption. Harding maintained contact with the adopting family.

Image Via Wisconsin Department of Corrections