Actress Lainie Kazan was caught shoplifting on Christmas Eve because she had allegedly stolen from the same store before.

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding star was arrested for petty theft on the afternoon of December 24 after trying to make off with almost $180 worth of groceries from a Gelson's supermarket in Los Angeles.

The 77-year-old was handcuffed and taken to a police station, where she was cited and released without bail, TMZ reports.

Kazan's attorney Mark Werksman told DailyMail.com that the incident was a 'misunderstanding' and also denied his client had ever shoplifted from Gelson's before.

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Actress Lainie Kazan was caught shoplifting on Christmas Eve because she had allegedly stolen stuff from the same store before

'Lainie is not a shoplifter. Nor has she ever left a Gelson's store without paying for her groceries,' he said.

'This was a misunderstanding by Gelson's employees who did not give her a chance to pay for her groceries before detaining her.'

Werksman added: 'We look forward to resolving these charges in court where we are confident she will be exonerated.'

But employees at the store told TMZ that they had spotted a shoplifting pattern with Kazan.

They said Kazan fills up her basket and pretends to walk to the checkout line, but hastily exits the store while other customers are also leaving.

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding star (right, in the film with Nia Vardalos, left) was arrested for petty theft last week

Employees at the store spotted a shoplifting pattern with Kazan (pictured in March), according to reports. They said Kazan fills up her basket and pretends to walk to the checkout line, but hastily exits the store while other customers are also leaving.

Security footage shows she has done this before, the sources told TMZ.

Therefore, security staff at the supermarket were waiting at the exit for her last week, leading to her arrest.

Shortly after 4pm on Christmas Eve, Kazan reportedly loaded her cart with groceries, including a hot rotisserie chicken, Jell-O and cleaning supplies.

She then put the items into a number of reusable bags and walked to her car.

But store employees had notified loss prevention staff about Kazan when she entered the store, so they were waiting for her at the exit.

Kazan has been acting since the 1960s but is best known for starring as mother Maria in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.