The woman who was caught on camera stealing a tip jar from Justine's Ice Cream Parlor has been found and charged with theft.
Police have found Mary Muhl, a 25-year-old Ocean City native, after studying the surveillance video recorded inside Justine's Ice Cream Parlor and have charged her with stealing a tip jar off the counter. The video showed Muhl swiping a few napkins off the counter before taking the tip jar, which Justine's estimates had around $150 in it. None of the employees recognized Muhl as a customer and the theft came at a time when no one was staffing the front counter. While employees didn't see the theft, they noticed the tip jar missing almost immediately.
Police turned to social media and the surveillance video was viewed more than 125,000 times before the woman was identified. Once she was identified as a local, Ocean City Police tracked her down and issued her a court summons. She has been charged with theft of less than 1,000.
More and more, Police are relying on social media to identify and capture suspects. While certainly not the biggest crime being investigated in Ocean City, the community came together to help bring this thief to justice.
Under Maryland State Law, someone convicted of stealing money or items valued between $100 and $1000 can face a maximum faces up to 18 months in jail and up to a $500 fine, not to mention civil restitution. But if you ask the employees of Justine's Ice Cream Parlor, it isn't about the money. The fact that someone -- a local, no less -- would steal from them is more hurtful than any lost wages.
