Police say shoplifting was family affair

Published 8:22 am Thursday, January 27, 2011

WEST ST. PAUL — A Twin Cities mother is accused of using her children to shoplift.

Police say the woman, her 15-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter visited a Kmart in West St. Paul and lifted jewelry, perfume and gloves.

Investigators say the mother selected a perfume box in a plastic sleeve, looked around for a security camera, the moved to another aisle when she spotted one and had her daughter cut open the box. But another store camera caught them in the act and they were arrested before they left the store.

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Police say the woman’s son had some gloves in his pants and two sets of earrings stuffed in his shirt pockets. WCCO-TV says the mother is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The children have been cited for shoplifting.