PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A 76-year-old woman was arrested after police said she used barcode stickers and tags she brought into the store with her to pay deeply reduced prices for merchandise at a Target store in Port St. Lucie.

Officers responded Tuesday, August 4 to the Target at Tradition store, 10720 SW Village Parkway after store loss-prevention employees detained Joan McKeon, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.

Investigators said McKeon entered the store carrying barcode stickers and barcode tags for lower-priced products. She allegedly placed or scanned those barcodes at self-checkout instead of using the barcodes attached to the merchandise she selected.

During the most recent incident, police said an item priced at $32.99 was scanned as a $1.29 purchase.

Officers searching McKeon’s purse found 28 barcode stickers, some bearing the names of other retailers, including TJ Maxx, Publix and Burlington, police said. Investigators planned to contact those businesses as part of the continuing investigation.

“Listen, times clearly are hard for people in America. Healthcare is high, food is high so people are doing anything that they can to make ends meet,” said Noesha Jennings, a shopper from Port St. Lucie.

“Me personally I think it’s pretty clever but we are a growing city and we can’t be having those things going on around here, man,” said Stephon Jennings, a shopper from Port St. Lucie.

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Target loss-prevention employees told officers the incident was not isolated. According to the arrest report, a Target Loss Prevention Manager at that store told police this was the twelfth retail theft McKeon committed at that store, dating back to September 2025.

McKeon is charged with fraud-swindle-obtain property under $20,000.

“You don’t rip anybody off like that. I don’t think it’s right. It does surprise me. I’m very shocked how the world’s turning out. Yeah. So it’s very disappointing to hear,” said Kimise Volpe, a shopper from Palm Beach Gardens.

We reached McKeon by phone Friday. She said she did commit the crime and she did not know why she did it. She also said she was not thinking clearly and she said I know I was wrong.

Target’s media relations office did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.