What? It's going to be suspicious. We black people. >> Why would she leave you? It's your mom. I mean, she went through a field and was going over 100 mph through red light. I would never left my >> Some mothers caught shoplifting at Walmart tried to justify it with their circumstances, being short on money, shopping for their kids, or just taking it temporarily. >> Come here. >> You You're not going to need this. You're not going to need this. >> I'm going to put it in my in my pocket. >> But under cameras and police scrutiny, circumstances don't replace receipts. And poverty isn't a free pass in front of the law. >> Some of my children that we have, I will take the blame on their mom. >> Now, let's watch the moments where greed clashes with the cameras and with the consequences. Have you ever wondered where the limits of motherly love truly lie when a police siren enters the picture? Is it protection and sacrifice or flooring the gas pedal at over 100 mph across an open field, leaving your own children behind to deal with the consequences? On January 22nd, 2025 in Washington, Illinois, officers responded to Walmart after a report of a group of women casually taking merchandise without paying. The moment law enforcement arrived, Malikisa Higgins, a mother, and the group's designated driver, went full escape mode, accelerating across a field and abandoning her kids and friends like strangers. Even her own children were stunned by how quickly they were left behind. >> Okay, that's it right there. >> Okay, I see it. Okay, the Edward King 74393. It's heading north in the field. They said there's still one in the store. Washington 2 terminated. They went through the red light at college and 24 speed over 100. It's pretty crazy. Never had anyone go through the field and ditch me like that before. Let's go see what we got going on here. >> Where's the girl at? >> Okay. You're about to go. Shut it. Shh. What? You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can will be used against you in court of law. Okay. >> You have the right. You move again. I'm going to put you on the ground. Do you understand your right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Can I can I >> So So, so why am I here today? >> Um, I don't have nothing to do to do with that. I'm telling you, I don't have nothing to do with that. You looking for some people, but I literally was with some people, but I don't have nothing to do with that. Somebody just gave me Somebody just gave me $10. That's what's in my hand. That's what I'm trying to tell you. >> Can you put it in my pocket? >> Okay. So, you don't have anything to do with what? What are you talking about? You came with some people. Where did they go? >> I don't know where they went, but I They left me. Like, I came in here to use the phone and that's my $10. Like, you could literally ask them. I don't know where they >> Do you have an ID or anything on you? >> My ID is not with me, but I'm 22 years old. I don't have no reason to lie to you or nothing. Well, it go a lot better for you if you don't lie for me. >> I'm not lying. I'm not lying to you. I'm literally telling you the truth. Somebody gave me $10. Like, literally, I came in here and asked him cuz I'm not from out here. You feel what I'm saying? I came out here with some people. Literally, I don't have like I'm from Peoria. >> They don't have Walmart and Menards in Poria. Why'd you choose these ones? >> I was with some people. They I wasn't driving. You feel what I'm saying? I'm not going to lie to you because I'm telling you the truth. You feel what I'm saying? If anything, they need to they need to come too. Like I'm not going to go to jail for nobody. You feel >> Let's back up a little bit. You were with some people. >> Yes. They left me. >> Who were you with? >> I was with my c I was with my cousin. >> Who's that? >> One of them name is um Kamaya. The other one named Bri. Feel what I'm saying? And I'm not going to be You feel me? I'm not going to go to jail. No. >> So, what did you guys come over to Walmart for? >> They wanted to come to Walmart. I didn't KNOW WHAT THEY LIKE. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU. I DIDN'T know what they was doing. You feel what I'm saying? They didn't tell me what they >> My bad. They didn't tell me. No, cuz I'm kind of nervous. You feel me? They didn't tell me what they was doing. You feel me? I literally was scared. So, I asked them. >> It's all on video. I'm going to look at that. >> Back at the scene, the remaining suspects started offering a variety of creative explanations. One insisted she only entered the store to borrow a phone and held up $10 as a kind of innocent alibi. Anything on you that's going to stick me, poke me, hurt me? Any weapons? Anything like that? >> No. Can you call and make sure you want to? I just got to check and make sure you don't have anything in my right. Can you put my money in my pocket? >> I don't want to put it in that pocket. >> No, not that one. I'm talking about the one on my pants for a full size white pan. >> No, the one I was chasing went through the field and took like Dukes a hazard. >> Yeah, >> they ditched her. They left her here. >> Excuse me. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I'll make sure my um my limb plots and my um >> Yeah, I'll make sure we get all >> and my money with me. >> We'll put it up. >> Just making sure I don't have no wants. >> And I'm just making sure you don't have and that you are who you say you are. >> I am. >> Whose car is it? >> It's um Kamaya's mom. Um if I don't have any warrants or anything, then um can you take me back to Poria? >> We shall see. Okay. >> Because I don't have no way. Like they literally love me. >> What's that? >> That's not mine. They in your bag. We got that from another store though. The girl the card who card is a mom. That's hers. >> But where was this stolen from? >> She got that from Walmart and um Poria University. >> Kamaya Gibbons. Why do you have Kamaya's stuff in your bag? >> Because that bag is not mine. That bag is Kamaya. If you understand what I'm saying. That bag's not mine. Can my money and stuff go in my pocket? My money in my chest. Cuz that bag's not that bad's not mine. We'll make sure everything gets >> Let's walk out here to the car. >> 20. Can you sound two people for me, please? >> Why you buckling me up? >> Cuz we're going over to Walmart. You got to wear your seat belt. >> But these Can you loosen these? Cuz >> loosen them. Loosen them. How? >> Like they a little bit too tight. Turn and let me feel them here. >> All right, I can get a whole finger in both of them. If anything, they should probably be a little bit tighter. I won't I won't put your seatelt on, so you can lean forward, okay? Since we're just going across the parking lot. All right, >> but see, I'm not I'm not going to go to jail for nobody because I'm not that. >> Then came Karia Gibbons, who claimed she had paid using the Affirm app, but her phone died at the exact moment of checkout. No receipt. According to her, that was perfectly normal. And she even accused officers of racial bias for questioning her story. By that logic, instead of verifying the transaction, she simply pushed her cart toward the exit and treated being stopped as an insult. >> I'm not sure who they all the parties are that were involved or whatever. >> So, right now, just with those two, this is all push out. I'm not >> I thought my f I paid with a firm. I thought it went through. I didn't know it didn't go through until he told me a door. That's why I gave him the cart back cuz I thought it WENT THROUGH. YOU YOU BRO LIKE ON SOME REAL LIFE BEING RESPECTFUL G ALL THAT SHAKING YOUR HEAD. I'M NOT WITH THAT LIKE D I SAID MY CARD DIDN'T GO THROUGH. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE PUSH THAT CARD OUT I COULD HAVE PUSHED IT OUT. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OH [ __ ] BEING MAD. DISRESPECTFUL. D [laughter] I TOLD YOU MY STOP FOR ONE SECOND. >> WAIT. LET US TALK AND WE GOING. >> NO. I'LL TALK IN A MINUTE. You get chance in a minute. I'm ask you several times and I'm ask you to be quiet. >> It's suspicious. I told you I understood that we black. It's going TO BE SUSPICIOUS. WE BLACK PEOPLE. THEY GOING TO SAY WE STEALING. >> LET ME KNOW. I can finish because right now we're not getting anywhere. >> It's suspicious when I have two people as cold as it is running and walking fast and going across the parking. When I see somebody drop a bag, it's suspicious. Okay. So, >> yeah, because Ryan left us like, >> "You let me finish. Are you going to let me finish?" So, I stop. If everything checks out, we're good, right? You say you didn't steal. You said you didn't do it, then you guys didn't do it. We got cameras. We'll check it. If they got it wrong, guess what? You get to go. But if that's not the case, then we're doing something else. You're not helping yourself by sitting there yelling and talking to somebody that has nothing to do with your actions. If you carry it out, >> she's shaking her head. What she shaking her head for? Like >> with a firm. I know y'all probably don't hurt. Y'all probably don't use it because y'all probably got >> Don't use what >> affirm. Like you know when you pay for your item, a firm, they pay for your whole cart then you pay it off over time on the app. That's what I did. And I scan my phone thing. My phone went dead after I scanned it. So I pushed my card up THINKING THAT IT WENT THROUGH. I DIDN'T TURN AROUND to check FOR NO RECEIPT. I don't need no receipt when I spend my money. So I just let it go through and I walked out. When he was like, "Where your receipt at?" I don't got no receipt at. He said, "GIVE ME THE CARD." I GAVE HIM THE CARD. >> BUT YOU have a receipt on your phone. Correct. >> Yes. But my my phone is dead. Like it's not turning on. My phone went dead as soon as I did the firm thing. >> Okay. You got ID on your phone? >> No, I don't I don't got no ID on your phone. >> How old are you? >> I'm 19. And how old are you? >> 21. >> 21. And forgive me if I'm asking a silly question, but we're talking like biological mom, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> He talking about we we [laughter] don't look alike to you or something. >> You don't. >> He talking about we talking about biological mom or something. >> Cuz I don't like that. But cuz cuz I'm in here trying to explain to y'all that if if it ain't go through, I don't understand that. But I paid with my affirm and my phone right after that. When he asked me did I have a receipt at the door, I said I don't have a receipt. He said get a card up. I gave it to him. No hesitation. If I was stealing, I would have overdid my stuff. Defending myself would have did the most. I gave him a car cuz I paid with my infirm. I seen the Bronco thing. If you play the camera, you see me. Look, look at the camera. That's me. What you see? What the [ __ ] am I? >> You act like the register and then you walked away. >> No, I was PLAYING WITH MY FIRM. YOU SEE MY PHONE NOW. G, STOP PLAYING with me. So dead ass. Ain't no acting like I paid with my firm account and my went dead. And I did not know it didn't go through until you stop me. That's [laughter] how he's racist ass. He races his head. He races. You'll see me. Look, you'll see me clicking on something. He racist. >> He might just be jaded. >> Talking about some jaded meaning a lot of negative stuff. And >> that's I understand that, but don't take it out of me cuz I can steal nothing. I sold you my bag. My bag is damn. >> No. >> With the with the firm thing. This is an app, right? >> I could go I could go SHOW YOU ON A BAR. I COULD GO TO STEP CHECK OUT WHAT YOU BREAK OUT AND SHOW YOU WHAT I DID. >> UNDERSTOOD. What happens if you I mean because I don't know >> like it's a app like you pay like you pay for like a car. The app pays for your car as soon as you buy it but you have to pay them back a certain amount every two weeks or even every couple days over the time >> just like a credit card but it's >> how it work. That's how it works. >> What happens when you like like when they ask you for the stuff and you you bought a bunch of stuff and you leave it here and you leave you stop paying. >> That's what I'm saying. You still have to pay for it. >> Yes, a firm paid for it. What? What am I SUPPOSED TO DO? >> THE situation got even more absurd when officers pointed out that a firm at Walmart only works for online orders, not for scanning in store, as she described. Another suspect argued that her money was in the car that had already driven off, while a teenage daughter bluntly admitted she planned to steal clothes because she'd been moving from house to house. All explanations quickly collapsed under camera footage showing the actions and attempted getaway. Boy, YOU A HAVE TO DISRESPECT ME CUZ I DIDN'T DISRESPECT YOU. I GAVE YOU YOUR CARD. EVEN THOUGH MY PHONE WENT DEAD, I didn't know that MY PHONE WENT THROUGH OR NOT. EXACTLY. You telling me that it has to force it work different in priority if you understand it differently. That's what I'm saying. The correct information. >> See, I didn't know that when it gave me the option step check out. I thought I could pay with a firm. >> I get that. But how you use a firm though is only through online. It's not a store aspect thing. So, you would only ever use it online. If you were using a firm today, you would not have gone in the store to get your items. We get them for you and we drop them off to your vehicle. That's how that works. >> All right, go ahead and step out for me, please. Please do not run. I ran the Chicago Marathon. I will catch you. >> I'm not going to run. >> I'm not like >> Hey, have this a different thing. It's all the same thing. >> No, so what what do we go through? Like we situation there was a misunderstand with the family thing. Hold on. I'll talk to you in a second. Hold on. If you tell me the truth, we'll work with you. If you don't, you will you will you will not like it. Okay. So, let me just say something here to you now. You have the right to remain silent. So, I just chased that gray car through a field down all the way almost to Poria. So, >> why don't you step out there with him and you step out over here with me right? >> That'll work. Then I'll come talk to you, too. >> So, I just asking you be cooperative. Okay. If you cooperate and all you did was steal some stuff, I'll give you a ticket in a court date and you'll walk out of here. If you lie to me, I promise you I'm going to make a difference. >> We just explained to it here that it was in the middle of the standing in Poria. I can play with a phone on my phone. I can scan a barcode. My phone is dead right now. You seeing the camera? I pulled my phone out and scanned the barcode. My barcode went through, but the phone went dead. So, I didn't know it did not go through until we had the door. >> How did you get here? >> My mom. The the same person you chased. That's my mom. >> So, she brought you all here today. So, yes. Yes. >> And she ditched you all to here. >> Yes. >> That is terrible. >> Why we stuck in Washington? Oh, I stay a whole baby. I'm not going to steal nothing. I came in here. I scared. >> So, who who else was with you? It's you, her, the girl I had here, and your mom. That's it. There's no one else. >> The girl in the red jacket. Y'all saying >> Yeah. Yeah. So, your So, your mom left all three of you here and took off. Why? Does she have a warrant or something? What's What's the deal? Does that's why she >> No, I think so. She took my other sister >> cuz she was outside in the car. She was >> That's why I'm saying her and my sister left US. THEY DO NOT COME BACK IN the store and say we going to go or nothing. They just let him. When he's in my car, I'm going to the car to try to explain the situation to my mom. I'm running TOWARDS THE CAR TO TRY TO EXPLAIN to her so she come from my cart to try to talk TO THE MAN. SHE DISAPPEAR. He He picking at me some where your ride at. They left you. Woo woo this. So I'm running around the parking lot looking for my mom. He like, "Yo, I left you. Haha, this. Haha, that." I'm like, "What you mean?" >> Yeah, because I needed clothes, >> which is all that merchandise is still. >> See, I did say that. I told I apparently I apologize. >> That's why I said you misunderstood you and he misunderstood me because I said that. >> What's the uh what's the name of the driver again? Last name Gibbons. But what was her first name? >> Huh? >> The driver of the car. Kamaya's mom. >> Malika. >> Malika. She came in too. >> Everybody came in. >> Okay. Okay. >> Conversation of my mom. Meia came through this door. Jazz and my other sister came through that door. That's why I went to jail. >> Okay. I see it in this video. But >> the family drama ended with a serious price tag. $4,000 in fines and multiple criminal charges. Malikica Higgins later turned herself in on traffic and fleeing related offenses. Karia Gibbons faced retail theft and obstruction charges and the others didn't leave without records either. Fraud isn't a tech misunderstanding and hardship isn't a free pass to take someone else's property. The law doesn't operate on emotional arguments or conveniently dead apps. It operates on evidence and accountability. There are many ways to prepare for a new school year, but few expect a school uniform shopping trip to end at a police station. For some, shopping isn't just about sizes and barcodes. It's about looking for any opportunity to bend the rules in the most puzzling ways. On July 18th, 2025, at Burlington Coat Factory, a 35-year-old woman offered a backwards lesson in ethics by bringing two teenagers along for shoplifting. When officers approached, the suspects sprinted in panic. Even while out of breath after being detained, the woman identified as Rashika Williams calmly claimed she only ran because someone nearby shouted, "Run!" >> YO! [screaming] YO, >> GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON THE GROUND. >> You don't know. >> GET ON THE GROUND. >> COME HERE. COME HERE. >> Come here. GET ON THE GROUND. SO, there's a black female, blue over blue, heading towards the Target parking lot. >> Come here. Come here. >> You You're not going to need this. You're not going to need this. >> I'm going to put it in my in my pocket. >> You're not going to need this. >> Put it in my pocket. Can you please? >> Get in the car. Come on. Okay. >> You already did. >> Get in the car. >> 20 people charges. >> Hey, D. >> It's going to be 65. Get out in the car. >> I'm trying to >> put your hands on hook. >> I'm trying to >> black female. Black over black. And another black female. Green over black. >> All right. What's the girl? What's the girl's name? >> I don't really know her name. I'll just tell her. >> Of course not. Of course not. >> Are you scanning? >> No, because our values, you know, are towards the register. >> All right. So, I just want to confirm that you want to press charges for it cuz they walked out the store carrying all of this stuff. They dropped it as soon as they saw me. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Uh, miss. >> Why are you out of breath? >> Sir. >> Huh? >> What' you say? >> Why are you out of breath? I just came from Red. >> Were you at the Burlington, >> sir? I'm sorry. We have >> Were you at the Burlington? >> I did go in there. >> Huh? >> I said I did go in there. >> Hey, were you with anybody at Burlington? >> Huh? >> Were you with anybody at Burlington? >> No. >> Why are you out of breath in over here? because I came from over there when I was at the store what I was in and I seen the police up and he said, "Hey, stop running." Those other two girls went to running that way and I ran this way. >> During questioning, Rashika presented a series of contradictory explanations. She said she entered the store to look for uniforms for her four kids, yet somehow ended up helping a friend push a black bag out of the store without knowing what was inside. Okay, miss. Can you come over here and sit down? Just sit down for a second. Just for one second until I confirm everything. >> Is that your bag? >> Yes. >> Okay. What's your name? >> Rashika. >> Rashika. >> Mhm. >> Okay. What's your last name? All right, ma'am. Uh, so you >> ma'am? >> Yes. >> All right. So, I'm going to talk to you now. This is your opportunity >> to clear some things up. Okay. >> Yes, sir. I'm going to read you your rights though. Okay. Well, yeah. I'm going have to read you your rights formality before I can actually talk to you. Um, you got any questions? Who are they to you? >> Huh? >> No. >> They're family. >> No family. >> Just friends? >> They look like minors. How How are you friends with minors? How old are they? >> I'm not friends with minors. are the girls that were with you. >> I wasn't with them. I was with the one with the um white shirt. I wasn't with them and I walked out. >> So, who's the girl with the white shirt? >> It's a boy. >> Okay. I saw three girls. >> It's a boy. He look like a girl. >> A boy in a white shirt. I saw three girls. So, >> I wasn't with them. I was with a boy. He's >> all right. >> I was with >> All right. So, just take take a take a seat. So, obviously I saw y'all doing what you were doing. This is your opportunity. This is your opportunity to tell me your side of the story. Okay. All right. I'm going to do that. >> All right. What happened today? Um, okay. I came in to Burn um to look for uniforms >> for for who? >> For myself. >> Yourself? >> Yes. >> Uniforms for what? >> For my children. >> Okay. How are your kids? >> Um, I have a 13-year-old, seven, uh, five and four. >> Where they at right now? >> With my mother. >> You got five kids? >> Four. >> You got four kids? All right. All right. So, Miss Williams, what happened? So, I understand why you here. You came here to look for uniforms. >> Yeah. >> What happened next? >> Um, I was in here. I came with um a guy friend that stays in the neighborhood where I'm at and we all came in beside the store and um he walked out before us. >> He walked out before us and um when those two ladies came out, I came out with them. And when you said, "Hey, I took out money. They stopped. But you didn't stop. >> No. All >> right. Why didn't you stop? >> Because you said, "Hey." >> All right. You thought you were not runners? >> No. I knew I couldn't. >> Just gave it a shot. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Okay. Well, you get a A for effort, right? >> What did you What What did you have with you when you came out the store? >> Um, I didn't have nothing. I helped her. I helped one of the young ladies get the bag out, >> but I didn't have >> bag. >> Oh, I don't know. >> The guest bag, right? >> Oh, there was nothing in my bag. Okay. >> Nothing but my cell phone. >> Cell phone? >> Yes. >> Okay. So So you So you didn't take You didn't take anything? >> No, sir. I just have to get the bag out. >> I did. >> She even admitted that if the store had clothing in her size, she would have taken it as well. It was an unusual form of honesty. She didn't steal that item simply because it didn't fit, not because she respected the law. >> Deprive that store of any merchandise. >> I didn't go and be honest with you, I didn't go in that store to do that. You get what I'm saying? >> I just went in. We went in to look. You know what I'm saying? See if they had uniform. They didn't have uniforms of my kids size. If they did, yes, I would have took. Yes. I'm not even lying. >> Okay. But they had nothing that you wanted. >> No, I didn't. Not Not for my kids. So all the merchants saw all the merchandise that we recovered. None of that was stolen by you. >> No, I just helped him get it out of the store. >> So what did you help him take out the store? >> Um the bag. I helped to push the bag out of the store. >> The bag? The bag? What type of bag? Describe the bag. >> Um I just saw it was black. I don't remember. >> It was a backpack. >> Um what is it? Like a tote bag or something? I don't remember. I know it was black and something, but I don't exactly. >> Black and gold. Maybe >> I think so. >> Guess. >> The situation peaked when Rashika, aged 35, claimed she didn't know the two people with her were only 15 and 18. She explained that kids in her neighborhood look older. Officers found it hard to believe that a mother of four couldn't distinguish a minor from an adult. And the fact that she drove across two counties from Fort Lauderdale just to browse Burlington made her story even harder to accept. >> You're 35. >> Anna is 18 and Phoebe is 15 years old. >> I didn't know their age. >> Okay. How do you know them? >> I in the neighborhood. >> What neighborhood? >> Up there in Lauderdale. >> So Nigel and Phoebe live in Lauder Hill. No, that's where that's where they hang at. >> But they live up here. >> I don't know where they live at either. I swear to God, I don't know where they live at. >> So, you just know them from around the way? >> Yes. >> All right. >> I don't know what they said. >> All right. Do you know their parents? >> No, I don't. Honestly, I don't. >> You got their phone numbers? >> No, I don't. >> So, y'all didn't have a conversation on the phone? >> No. >> You lying to me? I'm serious. I don't >> All right. So, I'm >> I can you can get my phone call my law. >> I'm going to look through the phone records. >> Yeah. >> So, y'all didn't have a conversation on the phone? >> No. >> How did you guys end up here at the same time? >> Because we rode in the car with my guy friend when I was telling you about >> We all rolled together. >> Yes. >> Um, so what made you come to the store with two girls half your age? What's What's the >> I'm trying to I'm trying to understand how that works. First of all, I didn't know we in the neighborhood. I didn't know their ages. I just know of them and seeing them when we all used to live in the same hump lat. >> Okay. That's it. So now you're in Palm Beach County. >> Yes. >> Do you often go places with girls? >> I didn't know their age. I just know that we all live in the same complex. And I seen her mother, but I don't know her mother. You get what I'm saying? When we all used to go to the pools and stuff like that, I didn't I never seen I seen their mama like a couple of times, but not physically to have a conversation. >> So So you're acquainted with the kids, but not their parents. >> I know her parents when I see Hey, how you doing? You get what I'm saying? But it's not >> purple. >> Not the one I have. >> I'm close close out to you. I appreciate you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But um I know the mom from the complex that we lived in in Lauder Hill, but I don't physically like like, "Hey, what's up?" Like, you get what I'm saying? I don't know them like that. But I just know that we all live in the same complex. >> So y'all All y'all rolled from Lauder Lauderdale. >> Fort Lauderdale. >> Fort Lauderdale. >> Yes. >> All of y'all rolled from Fort Lauderdale to here in a car together. >> Yes. >> What made you drive across two two counties over to come to Burlington? What What made you drive? >> I didn't drive. I'm sorry. What made you guys travel across county lines to Burlington Co- Factory halfway through Palm Beach County? >> Well, what made y'all do that? >> Well, first of all, the the guy friend punk friend came up here to see someone. >> And while they was up here seeing someone, they was like, "Y'all want to go to the store?" So, I said yes. >> Who did the the punk friend, as you described, come to see? >> Uh, one of his male friends. and I just sat in the back seat. >> So, you know Phoebe's 15, right? >> I didn't know. >> All right. >> I promise you I do know. >> It's very obvious that she's a minor. She's not an adult, right? >> What do you mean? >> It's very obvious by looking at Phoebe. You can tell she's a child. That she's not over 18, right? >> I did. I >> She looks like a kid, right? >> I didn't know. I'm just >> So, you have kids of your own? You got four of them? >> Yes, sir. >> But you didn't recognize Phoebe was also a child? >> No, we just got in the car. So you thought she was an adult, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> All they all look grown and big over there in the in the projects. >> Okay. Okay. >> Honestly, yeah. I known them for >> That's just very strange coming from the mom before, but Okay. So, you getting into nefarious things with with children. >> The clumsy scheme ended with serious criminal charges for Rashika Williams, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and petty theft. It served as a firm reminder that using minors as cover for illegal activity comes with real legal consequences. Fraud is never a misunderstanding, especially when it drags young people into bad decisions. The law doesn't accept excuses about just lending a hand to justify taking someone else's property. Sometimes people wonder where the limits of shamelessness truly lie, and the answer becomes obvious when a mother casually uses her young children as a shield for her shoplifting scheme. In November 2024, Walmart staff discovered a group of two women and several children loading shopping carts with more than $2,000 worth of merchandise. Instead of heading to the checkout like normal customers, they quietly pushed the overflowing cart straight toward the fire exit. It was almost comical that they believed the presence of children would lower suspicion, as if having kids automatically granted them immunity from retail theft. >> Right there. Well, I don't know if that thing's going to fit through there is the only thing I was worried about. >> I'm going to take this. You can stay with him right now. Okay. >> Yeah, they can. Yeah. This one was the two little kids. This one was the other kid. >> This is the one. >> Yep. This is the one that was with the little itty bitty one. >> Okay. >> So, we'll just do separate receipts for each, you know, person. You did. >> You're no dummy. >> One of them has a new pair of shoes on. She said those were hers and these are her daughters. >> Okay. >> So, her daughter has >> Okay. Which which daughter, hun? There's three other girls out there. Like the itty bitty medium or taller? >> Taller. >> Okay. >> So, did you pay for these? Because >> I didn't even know those was up in >> because these are in Those are no good. to activate them, >> right? >> And you don't have anything else in your purse? >> No, ma'am. >> Those are your shoes. You didn't take any shoes. It's the other one. >> The other girl I Oh, no. She said someone else had shoes on. >> Those are yours. Okay. >> They're pretty. I like them. >> The one you had has stolen shoes on her feet. You're getting a show, huh? Hold on. >> Is it you that has stolen shoes on your feet? >> My shoes are with my mom. >> Okay. Yeah. So, those are stolen. Your mom said. So, we got to take those, huh? >> Does she have my Crocs? >> I will get them for you. I think she's wearing your Crocs, I believe. >> No, we have to Crocs. [laughter] >> Well, I got We got to take those shoes. Okay. Okay. No, then I have to >> No, these are her white ones. I have black ones. >> No, your shoes on your feet. >> No, but my mom has my black. >> Yeah, I'll get your shoes. But we got to take those. Okay. Your mom told me that those are stolen. That's on your feet. So, I got to get them >> and then I'll be sure I'll come back with yours. Okay. >> Just black Crocs. >> Okay. The moment police stopped them, the blameshifting began in the most awkward fashion. While the innocent children admitted that their mothers told them to push the carts outside without paying, the women offered a creative explanation. The kids apparently acted on their own because they were too excited for Christmas presents. >> The Captain Crunch you paid for this. You paid for the water. You paid for This you paid for. It looks like this. So, you didn't pay for this, correct? Or this? Is there anything in your purse that you didn't pay for, >> ma'am? >> Yes, there's stuff in your purse as well. Okay. All right. Are these items items you took out of there as well? No. >> No. Listen, this whole place got cameras all over the place. I'm going to be able to tell if you put these things in your purse. If these are things that belong to the store, Listen, it's not going to make a difference if you took five items or if you took 12 items. I just want to make sure they get all of their things back. So, are these things that came from the store is Let me ask you this question. What in the purse didn't come out of the store? Is all this stuff in the bottom here saying that didn't come out at the make. >> Before we go any further, um I'm going to ask you some questions, but I'm going to read your remainder rights. Okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. Um if you cannot afford an attorney, won't be appointed for you. Get what you won. Um anything you say can will be used against you in a court of law. Okay. Um, do you want to talk to me right now? >> That's fine. >> Okay. So, here's the thing. I was talking to the kids outside. They said, "Mom told us to bring that stuff out." Is that like Tell me about that. >> No. I told them, "I'm not buying all that stuff, so put it back." I never saw the leaf out of the store. I told them to go back. I'm not buying all that stuff. So, I'm in line purchasing my thing. They pay for a couple of my items. I This is stuff that I bought. So, I don't have a problem with buying the stuff. I told them, "Look, I'm not buying all that stuff. Go put it back." I couldn't I did not see them walk out. So, I would have stopped them. >> Okay. Why Why do you think they would lie to me about that? >> Cuz they're scared. One of the women even swore on her children that she knew nothing about it until officers confronted her with hard video evidence pulled straight from the store's extensive surveillance system despite their desperate attempts to lie. Their story was a chaotic mess that made no sense against the clear logic of the law. >> Okay, >> I don't know if they just scared, you know, I'll take the blame, but I assure you this will never happen again. lately come >> into stores with my children, you know, cuz kids can pick up things. You know, I was a kid before, too. >> Mhm. >> You know, and parents said no. >> Right. But kids don't pick up that amount of stuff. Like I know kids take stuff, but >> not that amount unless they're kind of told otherwise. You know what I mean? Like that's just a lot of stuff for them to just walk out with. >> Yeah. I did not tell them to walk out the store for that, but I'm not sure that we have I will take the blame on their mom. I will take the blame. >> All right, let me go talk to the other woman out there. They just You're going to have to stay in here. >> Your kids, the kids out there were saying that you guys had told them to walk out with the car and go wait in the car. Did you tell them to walk out of the store and get them? Okay. Why would they lie to me about that then? >> Because they they probably scared. We told them do not come in here touching anything. >> Okay. But here's the thing. Like when kids take stuff, it's not like >> clothes like big items like that, like a vacuum. Like that's just kind of bizarre for a kid to take, you know? Like >> So why would they take that stuff out of everything in here? >> I'm not sure. I know they said they would get they wanted to get Christmas gifts for people. They wanted to get Christmas gifts for the >> you guys seat alone. >> $2,000 worth of merchandise >> between all of between the whole grouping. >> That's enough for us to hold everyone, you know, and take I I don't want to do that. I don't want to, you know, I don't want to take these kids in protected custody. I don't want [snorts] to go that route. you all could be charged with felonies, you know, and you know, there is a chance if you're honest with us, we can work with you and and get you where we have you follow us down to the PD and possibly process you process you guys there, not charge the kids if you guys, but if you're telling me these kids, >> you got to go wait by the car. Okay. Um, >> so, so what we're saying is these kids in separate instances, two came out, then these younger two came out, both told us the same thing and they never got to meet up with each other. She said, "My mom told me to push out the car." She said, "Just go out to the car with them." I mean, these kids have no reason to lie to us, you know. So, we're just looking for answers. under pressure from officers who explained that the children could be placed into protective custody if the adults were charged with felonies. One of the women finally dropped the act. She admitted to orchestrating the entire plan, instructing her kids to grab items and pushed the carts to the parking lot, all while claiming, >> "Did you guys do selfch checkckout, I'm assuming?" >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, some things were scanned, some weren't in an effort to avoid. Was that a fair statement? I mean, obviously, you know, their cameras are like really good here. So, I just it eases the the process for us if we know what happened versus having to sit here and watch hours camera and hold you guys. >> We're sorry for stealing. >> Like I told you earlier, not the end of the world, but not something you want to get caught up doing. It's not not worth getting in trouble for. Okay. >> Okay. >> Where were you guys coming from today? >> Um we were going to Chicago. >> Okay. >> From where's home? >> Um in Alto. >> Okay. Is that Mercer County? Is that where that is? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And then you guys stop here. Yes. >> Okay. What brought you to out of Walmart? >> Well, we did want to do some shopping. >> Okay. >> And um you know, money is kind of funny, so we picked up a few extra items. >> Okay. >> Um I'm not happy with this whole situation. I'm not thinking it's cool. >> It's not something that, you know, I do on a regular basis. I don't >> I believe that. I believe that. uh just being like a single mom and stuff is, you know, >> struggling. >> Struggling. >> Sure. >> So, we did pick up some items. >> Okay. What happened with the with the kids? Did you guys just tell them just go and push the cards out? >> Um, and the reason I'm asking this, I don't want them kids to catch any charges because they're involved as well. So, I just want and again, I don't get stuck on hesitating on your answers. Just spill it all out. I'm Listen, I'm dating a single mom. This embarrassing performance ended with serious criminal charges, retail theft, and unlawfully contributing to the criminal delinquency of a juvenile. The law may be sympathetic toward hardship, but it will never tolerate poisoning a child's moral compass by teaching them how to steal.