CAMDEN — A Rockport woman was charged with theft after police said she pushed a grocery shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise out of both the Camden and Rockland Hannaford stores.

Susan Rainville, 49, of Rockport, was issued summonses on Dec. 18 for two counts of theft by Camden police, according to Detective Curt Andrick.

Police said the theft at the Camden Hannaford occurred Dec. 13. An employee at the store observed Rainville leaving the store with the unpaid merchandise in a shopping cart, he said. Police later confirmed Rainville's identity after they reviewed the store's surveillance cameras.

Rainville also committed the same offense at the Rockland Hannaford store, police said. The total of the stolen items from both stores was valued at approximately $500.

In a separate case, police issued a summons to Emily Mills, 36, of Camden, for making a false public alarm or report. Camden police said that Mills reported to the police that electronics, tools and clothing had been stolen and the value was estimated at several thousand dollars. The investigation determined that the report was false.

The detective said that false reporting of a crime is serious because it ties up departmental resources when there are other legitimate crimes to be investigated.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com