'She's a career shoplifter'

An 86-year-old Chicago woman was arrested for the 61st time over the weekend -- for shoplifting anti-wrinkle cream from a North Side grocery, police said.

Ella Orko's first arrest, for petty larceny, came in 1956.

Her latest came at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Dominick's Finer Foods in the 2500 block of North Clybourn, police said.

An employee saw her stuff $252.26 worth of items into her pants before trying to leave without paying, police said.

Her haul included two packs of L'Oreal RevitaLift anti-wrinkle cream, eight jars of Olay face cream, 11 packs of AA batteries, five packs of salmon and four jars of Taster's Choice instant coffee, police said.

Authorities charged Orko, of the 1200 block of South California, with felony shoplifting because of her extensive criminal history. A Cook County judge ordered her held on $10,000 bail Monday.

Police said she has at least 20 aliases. Out of her 61 arrests, 13 resulted in convictions for shoplifting, police said.

"She's a career shoplifter," a Belmont District police lieutenant said.

Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office, could only confirm five convictions -- four in Illinois and one in Wisconsin. Her last conviction -- for retail theft in 2006 -- resulted in prison time. She was paroled in 2007.

Prosecutors recommended she be put on electronic monitoring. She's due in court again Monday.

COPS SAY SHE TOOK:

2 packs L'Oreal anti-wrinkle cream

8 jars of Olay face cream

11 packs of AA batteries

5 packs of salmon

4 jars of Taster's Choice

Photo: Ella Orko, 86, has used at least 20 aliases, police say. Her last conviction, in 2006, led to jail time. She was paroled in 2007. ;