(PORTAGE) After being caught eating a package of Oreos she hadn't paid for, a long-time Wal-Mart employee admitted Monday to taking junk food from the company every week for four years, police said.

Penny Winters, 63, of Lake Station, Ind., reportedly told a store investigator the thefts have happened once or twice a week during the seven months she has worked at the sstore at 6087 U.S. 6 in Portage, Ind., the Post-Tribune is reporting.

The rest of the thefts happened at a Wal-Mart in Arizona, where she was previously employed.

The store began an internal investigation after an empty cookie package was found Feb. 12 in the store. Surveillance video showed Winters helped herself to the snack, Portage police said.

When a manager questioned Winters on Monday night, she reportedly volunteered information about hundreds of previously unknown thefts.

All the thefts reportedly happened during Winters' work shifts. She has been a full-time maintenance employee of the chain for seven years. So far, she is charged with one count of felony theft.

— Post-Tribune
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