FULTON COUNTY, Ga — Alpharetta police say they arrested a mother on a shoplifting charge with her young son in tow.
Tiffany White, 32, faces shoplifting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor charges, stemming from the Saturday incident at North Point Mall.
“She was observed by loss prevention, on camera, going into a changing room with a number of clothing items on her arm, and coming out, she did not have any clothing items,” said Alpharetta Police Officer George Gordon.
Gordon told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik when loss prevention officers stopped White, they found the stolen clothes in her purse and her 11-year-old son by her side. Gordon said White admitted to the theft.
“Occasionally we do see instances where somebody’s committing the offense of shoplifting and they have children, as either active participants or just them as either a distraction or just to be with them at the time shoplifting takes place,” said Gordon. “That’s very unfortunate.”
Gordon said it was unclear whether the 11-year-old was actively participating in the shoplifting or just along for the visit to the mall.
“She intentionally went into the store, found what items she wanted, intentionally shoplifted and concealed those items in her purse with the child with her the entire time,” said Gordon.
Mall visitors said they were saddened by the allegations.
“I think that’s just terrible. Awful,” said Barbara Block. “Doesn’t surprise me in this day and age really.”
Visitor Jay Bostic said he thinks Child Protective Services needs to get involved.
“I think it’s a sad state of our economic times that someone would have to shoplift and bring their son along with them,” he said.
WSBTV
