MORROW, Ga. — Police say a mother and her relative had a 5-year-old child with them as they shoplifted nearly $800 worth of items.
Jashody Patel, 48, and Shital Patel, 26, appeared before a judge Wednesday after Morrow police arrested them on shoplifting and cruelty to children charges.
The judge had to postpone the first appearance hearing because an interpreter wasn't available.
Police say the shoplifting was bad enough, but when investigators tried to stop them, the pair took off running from the Walmart with the child running right along with them.
“They were holding the child, running down the street with the child,” said Morrow police Capt. James Callaway.
Officers say the women came into the store with empty Walmart bags and filled them up with merchandise.
“The thefts were caught on surveillance tapes. We have custody of those surveillance tapes as evidence for the Morrow Police Department for this case,” Callaway said.
Police say while the two women stole food, a lot of the stolen items were clothing.
“The disappointing part of this is (there are) a lot of social service organizations, religious organizations, within the greater Metro Atlanta area that can provide these types of services to people,” Callaway said. “You don't have to steal and you don't have to do this in front of your children.”
The pair are scheduled to be back in court Thursday.
WSBTV
