A Palmerton woman faces charges of retail theft and criminal attempt to commit retail theft after trying to take a $4 sponge from Redners Warehouse Market in Nesquehoning on Jan. 28.

An employee saw Elizabeth Ann Malarkey, 23, take a "Scrub Daddy" sponge out of its box and put it in her sweatshirt pocket, according to Nesquehoning Police Chief Sean Smith.The employee followed Malarkey until she realized he was trailing her, when she threw the sponge on a shelf, Smith added.Malarkey told police she made a terrible mistake and should not have taken the sponge. She has one prior conviction for retail theft out of Lehigh County on Nov. 20, 2011.