A homeless woman has been accused of stealing 30 total Nintendo DS games from an Iowa City store.

According to an Iowa City police complaint, Nicole Russell, 20, address unknown, was charged Dec. 11 with third-degree theft.

Russell visited Kmart, 901 Hollywood Blvd., where she allegedly selected 13 Nintendo DS games from the store’s electronics department and proceeded to walk around the store, concealing the games in her purse.

She walked to the garden-center section where she then took the games out of her purse and tore of the electronic article surveillance tags. She then proceeded to put the games back into her purse and proceeded to checkout.

At the checkout, Russell paid for Kool-Aid and Pop Tarts, but not the 13 Nintendo DS games, the complaint said.

Seventeen wrappers for Nintendo DS games were later found in the women’s restroom of the store.

The value of all 30 games totaled $524.79.

Third-degree theft valued at more than $500 is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable up to two years in prison with a maximum fine of $6,250.

— by Quentin Misiag