Oct 9, 2007 6:08 pm US/Eastern
Grandma Caught On Tape Shoplifting With 4-Year-Old
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (CBS) ―
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Surveillance cameras were rolling as a grandma allegedly used her 4-year-old granddaughter to steal from an Upper Darby, Pa. Sears.
CBS
A grandmother was arrested on charges she encouraged her four-year-old granddaughter to help her shoplift at a Delaware County, Pa. store.
Surveillance cameras were rolling as Monica Vitale allegedly shoplifted from a Sears store on 69th Street in Upper Darby with her young granddaughter in tow at about 6:15 p.m. EDT Monday.
"Not only is this lady -- grandmom, for want of a better word -- stealing from Sears, but you'll see she's stealing this child's innocence away," Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.
Police said Vitale used a toy baby carriage belonging to the young girl to allegedly steal various items, including several pieces of clothing.
The surveillance footage shows the heavily tattooed woman stuffing items into a bag, along with handing her granddaughter an item to place in the toy stroller before they exit the store.
"I would like to think that the four-year-old thought it maybe was a game or something like that. I cannot imagine in any way, shape or form that she was stealing," said Chitwood.
The two were stopped by store security as they exited the store. Chitwood said that Vitale allegedly shoplifted from the same store Sunday, but store detectives decided not to pursue her because of the young child.
Vitale lives in the shadow of the Sears store on Richfield Road where her neighbor said that her child and Vitale's granddaughter played together on Monday.
"It's a bad start for a child to be starting off like that, growing up in the world and thinking that's okay to do," neighbor Kelly Simpkins said.
The child's mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had no idea what was going on.
"You know I thought my mom was taking care of her granddaughter. I had no idea what she was doing when she went over there. I'll never forgive my mom for it."
Vitale has been charged with retail theft, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held on $25,000 bail. Authorities said she has three prior arrests on retail theft charges.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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