Woman accused of swindling cashiers for extra change at multiple Valley businesses

A woman is charged in multiple communities in the Mahoning Valley after police say she attempted to swindle cashiers for extra change.

According to court records, 54-year-old Lisa Minerd is charged with misdemeanor theft count in cases out of Brookfield, and Cortland and Austintown. Police say all of these cases involve similar crimes.

The Brookfield incident happened back in April at Scotty's Express Mart when police say Minerd came into the store and purchased lottery tickets worth $6 with a $50 bill.

Police say she was given $44 in change, but claimed she was only given $4 causing the cashier to give her another $40.

According to a police report, surveillance camera footage showed that Minerd had been given the correct change the first time, but she separated the change into two stacks; one with $40 and another with $4.

Police say Minerd put the $40 in her coat pocket before claiming she was only given $4.

Upon learning this, Brookfield Police posted a picture of the suspect, later identified as Minerd on Facebook. Police say comments on that post revealed a similar incident had happened in an Ashtabula County community recently and the suspect in Brookfield's photo matched the description of the suspect there.

Once Minerd was identified and arrested on her warrant, police say she asked if the arrest was "about the $40" and also said "I only took $40" when she was being arrested.

Trumbull County Eastern District Court records show Minerd is due back in court July 24.

Meanwhile, the Cortland incident happened in June at Brother's Pizza when police say Minerd came in and ordered two slices of pizza and once again paid with a $50 bill and received $43 in change.

This time, police say Minerd asked the worker to add pepproni to the slice as a distraction while she pocketed $40 in change. Police say Minerd claimed she was shorted $40 when the cashier came back.

Police say Minerd's scam didn't end there as she then allegedly pocketed one of the $20 bills and folded the other in half and then claimed she was still owed $20.

Police say Minerd then left the restaurant without the pizza.

According to court records, a warrant has been issued for Minerd's arrest in this case.

Meanwhile in Austintown, Minerd is accused of stealing more than $700 worth of items from the newly-opened Meijer store including clothing, household items and groceries.

Police say she was arrested following a traffic stop. It was during this stop that she was arrested on her warrant from Brookfield PD.

Court records show she's due back in court July 14 for the Austintown case.