A Carbon County woman admitted on Thursday in the county court to stealing over $2,000 worth of merchandise from her employer.

Jessica L. Yeakel, 34, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to one count of retail theft, as a felony three before Judge Joseph J. Matika.Yeakel was employed at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township.On Sept. 30, 2015, township police were called to the store by the manager who indicated he had an employee caught stealing from the store.Video surveillance showed Yeakel placing items in a cart during her work shift then pushing it out the store without paying for the items. The total value of the items taken was $2,217.72.Yeakel told Matika, "I'm sorry I took the items, but it was for survival." Yeakel claimed she was having financial problems at the time and took the items for her family. She said she has three children.Matika placed her on probation for two years and ordered her to make restitution for the items taken, render 100 hours of community service, supply a DNA sample and stay out of the Mahoning store.