Troopers: Woman finds wallet in Halfmoon, steals cash

PHOTOGRAPHER: Shutterstock Image

Stacie Rifenburgh

HALFMOON — A town woman spotted a forgotten wallet at McDonald’s and, instead of returning it to its owner intact, she stole $180 in cash from it, state police said.

The incident happened at the Route 9 restaurant May 23. Police arrested the woman, identified as 42-year-old Stacie Rifenburgh, Saturday.

Police began investigating after they received a report from the wallet’s owner. The owner got to the parking lot before she realized she’d left her wallet on the restaurant’s counter. She returned and found her wallet not on the counter, but in the bathroom and the $180 she had inside was missing, state police said.

Follow up: Accused wallet thief arrested after photo, Facebook post

Surveillance video showed what happened, state police said. A woman spotted the wallet, took it and went to the bathroom. State police then identified Rifenburgh as that woman and arrested her.

She faces one count of petty larceny, a misdemeanor. She was released to return to court later.