Woman accused of swiping doll from Toys for Tots box

Her name isn’t Grinch, and she’s not covered in green fur, but Rashida Z. Lovett is giving the evil cartoon character some competition in Schuylkill County.

Lovett, of E. Pine Street, Mahanoy City, grabbed a boxed doll from a Toys for Tots collection box in the first floor of the county courthouse in Pottsville at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, according to authorities.

County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake, accompanied by Sheriff’s Deputy Gerard Daley, gave chase in O’Pake’s car, catching Lovett as she drove down Centre Street.

“The allegations, if proven to be true, are fairly reprehensible. To steal toys from a donation box (meant) to give to those in need. It doesn’t get any lower than that,” O’Pake said.

O’Pake described what happened.

“The allegation is that she took a doll from the Toys for Tots box right outside the district attorney’s office. She left the courthouse through a door near the district attorney’s office,” he said.

As Lovett walked through the parking lot to her car, doll in hand, she was spotted by a district attorney’s office employee.

The sheriff’s office was contacted, and deputies tried to catch up to her in parking lot, but she drove off.

“I just happened to be driving through the parking lot at the time,” O’Pake said.

Daley jumped into the car, and O’Pake drove after her, catching up to Lovett as she drove down Centre Street, the business district of Pottsville.

Lovett had pulled into a parking space, and Daley got out. Lovett asked why he was questioning her.

Daley told her she was a suspect in a theft at the courthouse.

“What are you talking about? The doll?” O’Pake recalled.

Lovett handed Daley the doll.

Lovett is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and driving without a license.