Woman accused of Grandchild Shoplifting

[iradney]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071010/D8S62Q100.html

"I would like to think that the 4-year-old thought it maybe was a game or something like that. I cannot imagine in any way, shape or form that she was stealing," Chitwood said.

[crazylegs]

It doesn't suprise me in the slightest, I've seen it done before in the past.

Stay Safe

[MystyGlyttyr]

I remember when I was little and Albertsons and a few other grocery stores offered "kiddie carts" which were these little toy shopping carts that kids could push around behind their parents and "help shop". My mom would usually put something like a block of cheese or some other non-destroyable item in my cart and I would guard that cheese with my LIFE, man.

I'm guessing stuff like this, and the fact that little kids probably would try to run everything over with the carts these days, are the reason that my nieces and nephew won't ever get to do that.

[NightAngel]

Some of the best shoplifters I've encountered have been families.
They stow stuff with their kids toys (like this article) or have the child conceal an item. When the kids get older they provide distraction while the parents steal you blind.

Generally, people don't expect entire families to be in together on a plan to shoplift. I don't know why because it happens a good deal. I suppose it's because we have the expectation ingrained into us that parents are supposed to teach children values of some kind.

The child may have known exactly what Gramma was doing BUT if you are raised to believe this is what you're supposed to do then you don't know it's wrong until something like this happens.

Fortunately the kid is young enough to be reprogrammed- so to speak.

[XCashier]

There's a picture of her on this page: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21226250/

NightAngel, I hope you're right and the child can unlearn what Grannie Dearest taught her.

[Rapscallion]

Mmm - cute!

Oddly enough, the law over here is that the media cannot cause identification of a child involved in such a case, and thus photos such as the one there would not be allowed due to the risk of identification, or something like that.

Rapscallion

[NightAngel]

Wow. Gramma is kinda scary looking, eh?

I've got to wonder about the kid's parent also he/she was raised by this woman. You don't just suddenly wake up one day when your 60 and think, "Hmmm, think I'll try my hand at stealing today."

Gotta wonder.

[Ree]

The headline of that story makes me read it as a Grandma shoplifting children.

Yeah, I'm weird.

[Rine]

Poor kid.

You know, that woman is stupid for trying to shoplift the same place one day after the other. You'll get caught. Oddly enough, strollers are closely watched where I work at because we've had folks in the past do similiar things (stash merch. in the stroller; one lady even pulled her infant up and put stolen baby clothing underneath the baby.) It's sad when you can't trust anyone these days--not even moms with a baby and stroller.

[Boozy]

The headline of that story makes me read it as a Grandma shoplifting children.

Okay, so I'm not the only one who pictured a woman stuffing her trench coat full of babies in the "Grandchildren 'R Us" store.