A local woman was charged with allegedly stealing lottery tickets and cash from her place of employment.

Brooke Ritesman, 30, 4494 Taft Ave. S.E. No. E9, was charged Jan. 23 with theft or forgery of lottery tickets and third-degree theft.

According to an Iowa City police complaint, while working at Hawkeye Convenience Store, 2875 Commerce Drive, Ritesman took lottery tickets from a dispenser and made no attempt to pay for them.

Her actions were allegedly caught on surveillance video, and she allegedly admitted in an interview that she took the tickets. According to the complaint, she was also seen taking what appeared to be cash from the cash register.

Ritesman has had prior convictions of theft on May 27, 2009, and Oct. 17, 2003.

Third-degree theft is an aggravated misdemeanor.

Theft or forgery of a lottery ticket is a Class-D felony.

— by Jordyn Reiland