Woman Told Kid to Push Cart of Stolen Merchandise Out of Walmart: Cops

A Chicago woman was arrested after she instructed a child to push a shopping cart full of stolen merchandise out of the Bedford Park Walmart store, prosecutors said in court on Tuesday.

Crystal Fondren, 21, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice for a hearing on felony charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and retail theft.

According to the charges, Fondren was observed at the store, 7050 S. Cicero Ave., Bedford Park, around 8 p.m., Sept. 7, putting clothing and household items into a tote bag. After placing the tote bag containing $400 worth merchandise into a cart, she instructed the minor to push it out of the store, prosecutors said.

Bedford Park police reports did not indicate the minor’s age nor the minor’s relationship to Vondren.

Prosecutors said Fondren is currently on probation stemming from a retail theft sentencing in July.

The assistant public defender told the judge Fondren is the mother of a young child with another on the way, and is unemployed.

“She was just sentenced to probation,” Judge Felice said, “and second chance probation I might add.”

Bail was set at $100,000. Fondren’s next court hearing is Sept. 22.