Alleged Shoplifter Left Child Alone in Store to Hide From Police: Cops

An alleged shoplifter reportedly left her child alone in an Indiana store while she attempted to hide from police, according to authorities.

Portage police responded to a Wal-Mart store, located at 6087 U.S. 6, after they were alerted by security that three women and a man with several infants were attempting to leave the store, the Northwest Indiana Times reports. The man and women were suspected of shoplifting, police said.

Two suspects, Niya Tucker, 20, and Tyesha Wright, 21, were located in the store holding infants and claimed they had nothing to do with the theft. Wright said the baby she was holding belonged to 26-year-old Kiana James and alleged that when James saw police she handed Wright the baby and “took off running," the NWI Times reports.

James was found in a nearby Sears Hardware store with her 1-year-old daughter. She allegedly left the girl standing alone in the store while attempting to hide from police in the aisles, according to a police report.

A fourth suspect, 21-year-old Deonte Ballard, was reportedly located near a Pizza Hut in the area.

Police said $1,000 in merchandise was found in a vehicle that Ballard had keys to.

All four adults were charged with felony theft counts. Wright was also charged with false informing and James was charged with neglect of a dependent.

The three children were released to a relative.

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