Woman left kids in car while she shoplifted, police say - msnbc.com |
| Woman left kids in car while she shoplifted, police say - msnbc.com Posted: 24 Sep 2010 07:44 AM PDT ST. PETERSBURG — A 26-year-old mother was arrested Thursday after she left her two children in a car while she went shoplifting at a Bealls department store, police said. Yakeria Smith, of St. Petersburg, was charged with neglect of a child, felony retail theft and providing a false name to law enforcement agents. Bail was set at $7,150, according to Pinellas County Jail records. Police spokesman Mike Puetz said Smith went into the Bealls at 3635 49th St. N. on Thursday, leaving her 10-month-old daughter and her 5-year-old son in a car in the parking lot. The windows in the car were left partially open, and the engine was left running, but there was no air conditioning. Smith was in the store for at least 40 minutes, Puetz said. A member of the security staff there recognized her from surveillance video at a different Bealls and watched her grab clothing and go into a dressing room, Puetz said. The security staff member went outside on the chance he could find someone waiting to drive her away after she finished stealing and saw the children in the car, Puetz said. Police were called. When Smith returned outside, she tried to jump into the car but was taken into custody, Puetz said. She had stolen 32 items " bras, shirts and other clothing " and stuffed them into a girdle she was wearing in a failed attempt to look pregnant, the spokesman said. The value of the items was $271, Puetz said. When asked why she left her children in the car, Smith reportedly said, "I was just going to be there and right out," Puetz said. Smith had two prior convictions for theft, which is why she was charged with felony retail theft, the spokesman said. The children were not injured, Puetz said. An aunt arrived on the scene to take custody of them while Smith was arrested. The Department of Children & Families was notified. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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