'Extreme Couponing' Tied to Newspaper Thefts

Confused as to why a woman in Arkansas would, allegedly, steal 185 copies of a Sunday newspaper? You must not be an "extreme couponer." Poynter notes that TLC's Extreme Couponing, which debuted in April, has been linked to several reports of newspaper and coupon thefts in Idaho, Texas, Alabama, Florida, California, and now Arkansas. In the most recent case, 34-year-old Jamie VanSickler is accused of taking the 185 unsold newspapers from outside a grocery store where they were to be picked up by a newspaper carrier; she told police she is in a coupon club and didn't think she was breaking the law.

"Mrs. VanSickler is shocked and embarrassed by the whole situation, since she obtained permission from Harps prior to taking any newspapers, and she was just trying to save some money," says her attorney in a statement. Apparently you can learn all about extreme couponing at this website, which recently reminded couponers not to steal their coupons. (More coupons stories.)