Mom Allegedly Fled West Des Moines Mall After Shoplifting, Leaving Young Children Behind

A Des Moines woman arrested for shoplifting also faces child endangerment charges after she allegedly fled from loss-prevention employees at Dillard’s Monday afternoon, leaving her infant and 6-year-old with a woman she claimed she agreed to steal for in exchange for cash.

Chantel Marie Lynch, 30, of Des Moines told West Des Moines Police Officer Barry Graham that she had agreed to steal merchandise, which totaled about $150, in exchange for $60 cash so she could buy diapers for her 6-month-old son.

Witnesses reported seeing Lynch enter a fitting room with several items and exit with none of them, according to the report. Loss prevention employees stopped near the top-floor exit, escorted her down the escalator and through the store, where she broke free, leaving her children unattended.

A witness reportedly shouted, “You’re just going to leave your kids?” Lynch continued to run out of the store and made no attempt to come back for the children. Loss prevention employees followed and discovered her hiding under a Jeep in the parking lot.

Lynch reportedly told Graham that she had asked the other woman to stay with her children as she ran from the store, but witnesses refuted that.

Graham reported that while he was interviewing Lynch, she said her 6-year-old was diabetic and she was concerned about her insulin level. However, she didn’t have any insulin with her, according to the report.

Child endangerment charges were filed on the advice of the Dallas County Attorney’s Office, according to the report.

Child-protective authorities were alerted and Lynch was taken to the Dallas County Jail and booked.