Winona Ryder's Five-Finger Discount
Oscar-nominated Reality Bites and Beetlejuice star Winona Ryder shocked fans when she was arrested in December 2001 for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Her behavior was perplexing because not only could she afford the clothing, but the prosecutors in the case that was brought against her claimed that employees of the store had repeatedly witnessed her lifting goods and had finally decided to put a stop to it. She was charged with four felonies including theft, burglary and vandalism (for tearing antitheft devices off clothing). Though she pleaded innocent, in November 2002 Ryder was convicted of theft and vandalism, placed on three years' probation and fined $2,700. She was also ordered to pay more than $7,000 in restitution to the store and the court. In June 2004, on account of good behavior and paying her fines, a judge reduced her felony convictions to misdemeanors.