By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONROE - Pamela J. Reardon used a shopper's card to save a little money on groceries - and bought herself a lot of trouble.

Police say they tracked down Reardon only because she used a Marsh Fresh Idea Card - registered under her own name - to get discounts on items she purchased with a stolen check, written on someone else's bank account.

"She used a Marsh shopper's card to try to save a little money - and the money she was spending wasn't even hers," said Detective Mike Staples.On Thursday, Reardon, 38, voluntarily came to the police station, where she was charged with two fifth-degree felonies: theft and forgery, Staples said.

Staples said Reardon stole the check from a Monroe residence where she did housecleaning in December, but she waited until June 2 to write the check at the Marsh supermarket, 621 N. University Blvd., Middletown. Reardon bought items such as Pepsi, Frosted Flakes and Advil - many of them discounted with the Marsh card - totaling $136.52.

But when that check cleared, it stood out on its rightful owner's bank statement because "the number was way out of sequence," Staples said, and because its owner does not shop at Marsh. The victim reported the theft to police Tuesday.

Staples found Reardon the next day. He said when he explained how he had found her, Reardon told him: "I'm a pretty stupid criminal, aren't I? I guess I can't make it in the criminal world."

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com