BEDFORD, Pa. -- A district attorney gets creative by making two accused thieves hold signs of shame.

A mother and daughter could be seen outside the courthouse in Bedford, Pa., holding signs announcing their alleged crime and warning others not to steal.

The women are accused of taking a gift card from a 9-year-old on her birthday.

“It is rehabilitation for these ladies to stand up here and say they stole from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday,” said Travis Livenggood. “That certainly is part of the process for owning up to what you did in front of all these people out here.”

Since the women agreed to hold the signs, the district attorney will ask for probation instead of jail time when they plead guilty.