The defendant allegedly stole $106 worth of groceries by hiding them in a backpack.

A Richland Township woman with 11 prior shoplifting convictions waived all charges against her in county court Wednesday at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine in connection with a shoplifting incident at a Wawa in Hatfield.

Hatfield police charged Elizabeth Irene Aquino, 47, of the 200 block of Yankee Road, with felony counts of retail theft and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance with intent for allegedly stole over $100 in groceries by concealing items. in a backpack, which also contained 12 hypodermic needles, according to court documents.

On Oct. 21 at 10:23 a.m., police were dispatched to Wawa, 2480 Bethlehem Pike, for a report of a suspicious female, identified as Aquino, hiding items in a black backpack, according to the affidavit.

Upon arrival, police located Aquino inside the Wawa carrying a partially open backpack containing numerous food items, police said.

Aquino, authorities allege, was seen walking to the drink cooler, selecting a drink and then leaning over with his backpack in front of it, in an attempt to hide what he was doing, he put the drink in his backpack and stood back up. .

When he noticed police in the Wawa, Aquino began walking backwards down the aisle with his backpack in front of him, police allege. At one point, she went to the register but didn’t pay anything and instead went to the bathroom for a few minutes, police said.

Aquino exited the restroom, walked through the store and attempted to leave through the front door, but was stopped by police, according to the complaint. She was asked to open the backpack, which contained several food items, police said. Once apprehended, a search of the backpack turned up drinks, snacks and candy, totaling $106.51, according to the complaint.

In addition, 12 capped hypodermic needles, which police said are commonly used to inject heroin and methamphetamine, and a baggie with seven round green pills were found in the backpack, police said.

Aquino admitted the pills were klonopin, police said.

According to court records, Aquino remains incarcerated at the Montgomery County Jail on $77 bond, which includes a parole/probation bond. A formal arraignment is set for Dec. 11 in Common Pleas Court.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.