A Lynn, Mass., woman was charged with larceny after she allegedly stole 18 12-packs of soda and tried to feed them -- unemptied -- into a can-return machine.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tina Cafarelli, 36, was arrested Monday after police officer Craig Fountain, watching loss-prevention video at the Washington Street Stop & Shop, observed her purchase the 12-packs and immediately attempt to deposit the full cans of soda into the store's digital can-return machine, The (Lynn) Daily Item reported Tuesday.

Cafarelli allegedly purchased the soda with a stolen electronic benefit transfer card and gave police two false names and two false Social Security numbers when confronted.

Police identified her once she was in custody, and a Lynn District Court judge ordered her held in lieu of $250 bail.

She was charged with larceny by false pretense, destruction of property, obstruction of justice and receiving stolen property.