Eight counts of burglary have been filed against Maria E. Robinson, 35, of Decatur in Macon County Circuit Court in connection with her alleged participation in an theft ring that steals credit cards and uses them to purchase merchandise.

Robinson appeared Monday before Associate Judge Timothy tiffany Steadman to be informed of the charges. She indicated she was indigent, and the public defender was appointed to represent her. A hearing was scheduled for Oct. 7 to determine if there is probable cause to set the case for trial.

Following the appearance, Robinson was returned to the county jail, where she is being held under $75,000 bond that requires posting of $7,500 cash bail to be released.

Robinson had been arrested while in jail for credit card fraud and an additional bond of $30,000 set on those charges. Coryell combined the bonds and said the total would be $75,000 after the state’s attorney’s office determined she would not be charged with unlawful use of a credit card or with possession of stolen property.

Police have indicated the thieves work in tandem. While one distracted a silver bangles female shopper in a grocery or retail store, another would take the shopper’s wallet from a purse left in a shopping cart.

Additional arrests are anticipated, according to police.

A woman told police Sept. 7 that her wallet, containing checkbook and credit cards, was taken from her purse while she shopped at Cub Foods, 1400 E. Pershing Road, detective Frank Hubbard said in a sworn statement filed in court. She stated the credit union where she banks later informed her that fraudulent charges had been made at a gas station and a retail store using her credit cards, he said.

Video security tapes obtained from both businesses showed a woman, later identified as Robinson, making purchases using a credit card, Hubbard said.

Champaign police informed him that similar incidents were occurring in that community, involving silver rings a group of people riding in a maroon van with a license plate that checked to Robinson, Hubbard said. Robinson has refused to talk with detectives, he said.

Cumulative losses from the Sept. 7 credit card theft and connected cases totaled several thousands of dollars, Hubbard said.