Christmas Eve Walmart Theft Spree Goes Wrong For Teen, 8-Year-Old

MOUNT PLEASANT, WI -- Police say a 19-year-old woman led a Christmas-Eve retail theft shopping spree with three teens and an 8-year-old, but not before they were caught when one of the teens wrecked their getaway vehicle.

Just after 11 a.m. Christmas Eve, officers from the Mount Pleasant Police Department responded to Wal-Mart located at 3049 S. Oakes Road on an apparent retail theft case.

Police learned that several youth fled the store with backpacks loaded with stolen items, according to reports. Police said two suspects
were immediately located in the area by responding officers with the help from citizen reports.

Police said one of the youth stole a vehicle, and fled the area before colliding with two parked cars. The driver was later identified as a 14-year-old girl from Racine. Police said the girl fled, driving south onto the grass area located between Menards and Goodwill, and came close to striking a pedestrian.

Police believe the girl lost control of the vehicle and drove over the cement retaining wall that separated both properties. The vehicle was severely damaged, bu none of the people inside were seriously injured, police said.

Officers learned that a 19-year-old woman from Racine had driven an 8-year-old child and three teenagers from Racine to various stores in the Racine area on the day before Christmas.

Police said this group of people then stole merchandise from at least three stores before stealing from Wal-Mart. The 19-year-old was arrested for retail theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said. Retail theft charges were referred to the juvenile court for all the teenagers.

Police said the 14-year-old girl now faces charges of recklessly endangering safety, operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and hit and run.

Image Via Mount Pleasant Police Department