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Last updated on Thursday, January 17, 2013
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Two Indianapolis women were arrested on a theft charge after police say they used young children to try to hide stolen goods at a southside Walmart.
Stephen Dean of TheIndyChannel.com reports that the theft of $352 worth of clothes, food, cosmetics, children's shoes and toys was reported Tuesday night at the Walmart on U.S. 31 South near Southport Road.
Indianapolis Metropolitan police wrote in their arrest report that store security workers watched both women roll their shopping cart out the front door with the stolen goods being concealed or held in the hands of a 7-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl, who were both riding in the cart.
The children's mother, Rita G. Perez, 28, of Mayhew Drive, was booked on a charge of theft. Her companion, Amie J. Gallegos, 23, was charged with the same felony crime.
Under questioning by police, officers wrote in their report that both women admitted to trying to steal the assortment of goods with the children in tow.
Department of Child Services caseworkers were called to take custody of the children as the women were being booked.
Their 2013 Chevy Silverado was impounded by police.
The itemized list of $352 worth of stolen goods includes makeup, women's clothing, kids' shoes, toys and food.
Store security reported that they tracked both women with the children for nearly three hours inside the store before police say the cart was wheeled past all the checkout lines and out the front door.
The arrest report indicated that some of the items were hidden under the children, while others were being held in the children's hands when the women were caught.
To read more on this story visit http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/kids-held-stolen-loot-in-shoplifting-try-police-say
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