Trained by a parent? Girl caught stuffing stolen goods into pajamas

By Tom Bevan

A toddler was filmed shoplifting goods into her pajamas — after being “trained by a parent,” a shocked store owner has said.

Shamly Sud was “gobsmacked” watching CCTV of the girl — who she says looked about 3.

Stunned Shamly says the girl stuffed about five items down her pajama bottoms at her shop in Glasgow, Scotland.

She says the girl’s parent and another young sibling “created a distraction” while she did it.

The incident was captured on CCTV and later reported to the police.

Shamly said it was “clear” the girl had been “given instructions” by the mother as she moved with her back to the camera.

The tot then put down some items of “high value American food products” before returning to pick them up and take them to the register.

Shamly said: “We found some items missing and when we looked back on camera we were shocked to see it was a young child.

“The child could not have been any more than three. She came in with a younger sibling and her mother.

“They walked round the store, picked up a couple of things and put them down next to some American stock.

“The child then proceeded to pick up a couple of items and put them into her pajama leggings.

“They did this a couple of times and then picked up the two items and took them to the till.

“They had their back to the camera but you could see they taking items and putting them down.

“I am just gobsmacked that such a young child has been trained to steal by a parent.

“We have all been there when there is a child in a pram who has picked something up by mistake and been ‘oh my god’ and taken it back.

“But this was clearly calculated. The essence of a parent is to nurture children to be better than we are.

“But this child is clearly being taught to steal.”

Independent retailer Shamly, 55, who owns 11 stores and has been full time in the industry since 2011, said retail crime was the worst it had ever been.

She said all incidents are reported to the police but they never seen any action taken.

Shamly said the mother had walked round with another girl, she estimated at 2 years old, to create what she suspects was a distraction.

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She added: “There must have been about five items she put down her pajamas.

“They were from the American stock. The manager showed me the CCTV and I just could not believe the way it was done.

“The mom then proceeded to buy the items that were put down so you could see how it was all planned.

“This is not the child at fault here. Any child is not born a thief.

“They are taught to do that. It is purely on the mother. She will say ‘this is what you are doing’ and instigating the child to do as they say.”

Shamly estimated the mother to be in her mid-20s and said since sharing the footage she has faced a public backlash — but feels it is an important message to share.

She added: “People have said they can not believe we have shared this — but the focus should be on the fact there are children being groomed as thieves from such a young age.

“They don’t appreciate how bad things are and how much this is happening in retail.

“Everyone needs to focus on just how serious this all is. This is by far the worst it has ever been and this is the most shocking thing I’ve ever witnessed.

“It makes you worried for the future. Not only what kind of message this sends out but how much worse things will get. There must be more of a deterrent.”

Shamly said she does report all thefts to the police but said “deep down we know nothing will happen.”

She added: “But we have to go down the whole process. At least if they see the same person again and again they might act.

“We did the same with this incident but haven’t heard anything back.”

The theft happened in mid-October during the middle of the day.

Shamly, who runs six forecourts and five convenience stores in and around the city, added: “Retail crime is the highest it’s ever been. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“But seeing something like this, involving such a young child is both ridiculous and terrible.

“This is what needs to be addressed. There is no deterrent against retail crime. No one is scared of doing it anymore.”

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said: “We must not forget that children are the victims. The criminals are the adults who prey on their vulnerability, using fear and control to keep children trapped and silent.

“The scars of exploitation like this can be profound and lifelong, deeply affecting a child’s mental health, education and future. Child victims of exploitation need our compassion, understanding, protection and specialist support to recover — not blame.”

Last month, Victims and Community Safety Minister Kirsten Oswald said it is important to recognize that children can be exploited into committing crime by serious organized criminals “for their own despicable ends.”

The Scottish government is backing the Fearless campaign — a bid by Crimestoppers to encourage young people to report information around the exploitation of children and to help people get support.

Scottish Grocers Federation chief executive, Pete Cheema, said: “Reports of young children being used to shoplift are deeply concerning, raising alarming questions about the exploitation of vulnerable children by organized criminal groups.”