Thieves parade signs admitting crime

To avoid jail time, an American woman and her adult daughter agreed to stand outside a courthouse holding signs saying they stole a gift card from a nine-year-old girl on her birthday.

Fifty-six-year-old Evelyn Border and 35-year-old Tina Griekspoor stood outside the court for 4 1/2 hours on Tuesday.

They held signs that read: "I stole from a nine-year-old girl on her birthday! Don't steal or this could happen to you!"

Because the women agreed to hold the signs, Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins says he'll ask for probation instead of jail when they plead guilty to the theft.

Higgins says they swiped a gift card that a girl set on a shelf while a store employee helped her.

The girl's mother plans to drive past the courthouse to teach her daughter the importance of obeying the law.

- Reuters