Surveillance video from inside the Twill boutique in Brookside shows a woman taking dresses off the rack and shoving them into her purse. Alongside her is a woman with a baby and a little girl.
"It's showing your child that it's OK to steal," said Brooke Shrader.
Shrader was inside the store when the woman walked in. She said the little girl was used to distract her while the woman took the clothing.
"They kind of made one of the kids hide and come up in front of her while she was trying to steal a dress,” said Shrader. "She kept asking me questions also to kind of distract."
Kris Koenig, the owner of Twill, said he has never seen shoplifters use a child to help steal. He said $500 worth of clothing was taken. It’s the most anyone has ever taken from the store.
"I can't wrap my brain around bringing your children to commit a crime," said Koenig.
Overland Park police told 41 Action News it's not uncommon for parents to have their kids with them while shoplifting, but said it is unusual for a child to help.
Police said strollers or diaper bags can be used to hide stolen items. Kids can also be used as a distraction, like what Koening believes happened in his store.
In both Kansas and Missouri, shoplifters can be charged with misconduct of a minor if they use the child to commit crimes.
“On this occasion the money isn't necessarily what I am worried about. I'm more worried about these kids and what kind of household are they being brought up in where the role models are taking them to commit crimes with them," said Koening.
The Kansas City Police Department is investigating. If you have a tip call 816-474-8477.
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Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
