Aurora council member accused of shoplifting again

An Aurora City Council member has been charged with retail theft for stealing from a Meijer store in her ward for the second time since 2013, police said.

Tenth Ward Alderman Lynne M. Johnson, 51, of the 400 block of Plaza Place, was charged with misdemeanor retail theft Sunday after a plainclothes employee witnessed her take $55.21 worth of various makers, pencils, party favors and ibuprofen, police said.

The employee at Meijer, in the 800 block of North Route 59, told police Johnson put those items in her purse before she paid for other items. The employee confronted her outside the store and escorted her to the asset protection office without incident, police said.

In August 2013, she was accused of taking $150.24 worth of cosmetics and food from the same store. She pleaded guilty and received supervision.

On the most recent charge, Johnson posted $150 cash bond and was released. She's expected in court at 9 a.m. March 7 at the DuPage County Judicial Center in Wheaton.