Complaint: Former Mrs. America Charged With Macy's Theft
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A former Mrs. America and Mrs. Minnesota is accused of swindling Macy's out of more than $5,000, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
The criminal complaint says 50-year-old Jennifer Susan Kline bought a total of $5,790 in clothing on two consecutive days early last November from the Macy's department store at Southdale Mall in Edina.
Kline, from Wayzata, then allegedly returned most of the items to the Macy's at Mall of America on two separate days later in November, and was refunded $5,501 in total.
Macy's asset protection detective notified Edina police in December, and told investigators that Kline switched the tags and labels on the clothing. The returned items showed signs of being worn or were noticeably dirty.
"It's one of those crimes where they think this is pretty easy I'm going to keep doing it," Edina Police Sergeant Kevin Rofidal said.
A search warrant for Kline's Wayzata home in December uncovered 24 items supposedly returned, including clothing by BCBG, Calvin Klein, and North Face. Officers also found a Macy's gift card. Authorities say Kline would put some of the return funds onto Macy's gift cards.
Kline won the Mrs. Minnesota crown in 1988, and the Mrs. America title one year later. She has also worked as a host on ShopNBC.
She made her first court appearance Tuesday, and her next date is set for May. 9.
