A woman accused of stealing 30 cartons of cigarettes from a local convenience store while a friend distracted the clerk faces criminal charges in Olmsted District Court.

Lourella Denice Mcghee, 42, 1903 17th St. S.E., No. A311, is to appear in court Sept. 27, where she is charged with felony theft.

The complaint says that she and a man are seen on store surveillance video from the SuperAmerica store at 919 37th St. N.W.

A male manager said he was working the overnight shift July 3 when the two entered the store. He said the man got him away from the counter. While away, Mcghee is seen on tape going behind the counter and taking cigarettes, the complaint says. She takes several cartons and leaves the store and puts them in her truck, then comes back into the store. The complaint says that the male suspect left the store and went into the parking lot with Mcghee. She returns to the store and asks the manager to go outside and help her friend. He does, and she is seen on video going behind the counter and taking a case of cigarettes and leaving the store through a back door. In all, 34 cartons of cigarettes were stolen, valued at $1,387.

Police interviewed Mcghee and said she identified the man with her only by his nickname, “Black.” She claimed it was his idea to steal the cigarettes, and that after they did they rode around in her car. She said they went to a friend’s house, and she went inside for a few minutes.

She said when she returned, “Black” and all the cigarettes were gone, according to the complaint.