Shoplifter with Kiddie 'Accomplice' Nabbed After 3rd Apple Store Visit: Prosecutor

Orland Park, IL -- A shoplifter arrested after her third pass through the Apple store at Orland Square Mall had a "partner in crime" — a small child, prosecutors said in court.

Rocio Figueroa, 54, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony retail theft charge.

According to the allegations, Figueroa was spotted around 3 p.m. July 10 swiping five items from the Apple Store at 428 Orland Square Drive. The display items were valued at $430.

Orland Park police said she had been at the store on two other occasions to steal.

On April 30, the prosecutor, said Figueroa was seen in the company of a young child taking a Star Wars BB-8 Droid toy off the shelf. She handed the $149 phone to the child before they walked out of the store.

After they got outside, the child handed the toy back to her. The incident was captured on security video, the prosecutor said.

Figueroa was back again on June 11, this time allegedly removing two Nano iPods valued at $298. Loss prevention officers told police the woman placed both items into her purse before walking over to another display and leaving the store.

The people with Figueroa left the store about a minute after she did.

The store was able to recover the merchandise from the July 10 theft, the prosecutor said.

Figueroa has a long rap sheet of past shoplifting arrests and convictions, according to court records.

The assistant public defender told the judge that a value could not be placed on the merchandise from the first two thefts because “nothing was recovered.”

“It’s guesstimate on price,” she said.

Judge Felice set bail at $30,000. Figueroa’s next court appearance is Aug. 22 in Bridgeview.