FRAMINGHAM, MA (WBZ-AM) -- A homeless woman is arrested after police say she tried to shoplift more than a thousand dollars in merchandise from a store in Framingham.
Police say that she picked the wrong store at the wrong time.
Melissa Allen,32 loaded up with a little more than $1,100 dollars in merchandise at a Target store crowded with holiday shoppers.
Turns out many of those shoppers were police officers from area departments.
More than 50 of them were there for their annual “Shop With A Cop” event to help needy children at Christmas.
A store security officer spotted Allen on surveillance video passing the checkout counter and heading out of the store.
That's when police moved in and arrested her.
They say Allen resisted officers and gave them a fake name.
After appearing in court she was taken to a hospital after she told police she had swallowed drugs.
WBZ NewsRadio1030 Mike Macklin reports.