Adult 'Encourages' Child to Leave Store With Stolen Merchandise: Cops

A Chicago Ridge woman was charged with encouraging a minor child to walk out of a store with stolen merchandise, prosecutors said Friday in court.

Ala Abdelhadi, 31, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She also charged with misdemeanor retail theft.

According to the charges, Abdelhadi was at the Orland Square Sears store around 7:16 p.m. June 2. She was spotted handing a pair of shoes and other merchandise to a 9-year-old boy.

Loss prevention agents observed Abdelhadi allegedly encouraging the child to carry the merchandise out of the store and putting it into a waiting car.

The prosecutor said Abdelhadi was confronted by loss prevention agents when she left the store.

Abdelhadi’s attorney told the judge she is a single mom of three young children. She works part-time. She has no prior criminal background.

“What an example you’re setting, having a minor commit a retail theft,” Judge Felice said.

The judge released Abdelhadi on a $25,000 I-bond.

“She’s going to stay home,” Judge Felice told Abdelhadi’s attorney. “She can leave to go to the doctor or to take care of the children.”

The boy, who was not Abdelhadi’s child, was released to his mother’s custody. There were two other minor children with her at the Sears store, according to court records.

Abdelhadi is due back in court June 26 in Bridgeview.