Red Wing school board treasurer faces theft charges after being caught shoplifting at Target – Post Bulletin

RED WING, Minn. — The treasurer of the Red Wing school board is accused of shoplifting more than $500 worth of merchandise from Target since March.

Rachel Marie Marshall Schoenfelder, 49, is charged with felony theft after she was caught shoplifting on July 18.

According to the criminal complaint, Red Wing police were dispatched to Target in July after an asset protection investigator said there was “a known shoplifter currently in the store.”

The investigator had contacted Schoenfelder and brought her to the property protection office before police arrived, the complaint states. Schoenfelder admitted to shoplifting on July 18 and other times earlier in the year, according to the complaint.

“Schoenfelder stated that she knew it was a mistake, but did it because things were getting more and more expensive,” the complaint states.

The complaint alleges that Schoenfelder was seen on surveillance videos placing a 10-pack of mini Diet Coke into a cart. She then placed other items, totaling $158.72, into a reusable Target bag. The items included three books, a pair of shoes, games, chocolate chips and a white chocolate bar.

Surveillance videos from the self-checkout machines showed her paying for some items in her shopping cart, but not those placed in the reusable bag. The stolen merchandise was recovered by the investigator and returned to Target, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Schoenfelder admitted to deliberately putting merchandise in the reusable bag and not paying for it. She received a trespass notice.

The investigator said Target wants to press charges for seven other shoplifting incidents that occurred between March and July. The total amount of merchandise stolen is $504.76.

Jim Bryant, president of the Red Wing school board, told the Post Bulletin that it would be “premature” to make a decision regarding Schoenfelder’s status as treasurer since she has only just been indicted.

Schoenfelder’s first appearance is scheduled for October 31.