Mother Arrested for Target Shoplifting Involving Teen Son

A Flagler County mother was arrested at a Palm Coast Target store after loss prevention officers observed her concealing over $330 worth of unpaid merchandise at the bottom of her shopping cart. The incident occurred when store security noticed suspicious behavior and alerted deputies to the alleged theft in progress.

During the investigation, deputies discovered this was not the woman's first attempt at shoplifting from the location. Store personnel revealed that her 15-year-old son had pushed a separate cart containing unpaid merchandise out of the store approximately one week prior to the current incident.

The investigation revealed additional complications when deputies learned the woman had been driving on a suspended license. Her explanations to officers contained multiple inconsistencies, including conflicting statements about her son's presence in the store and his involvement in moving their vehicle.

Loss prevention also identified a fraudulent return attempt connected to the suspect, which when combined with the current theft and the previous incident involving her son, brought the total value of stolen merchandise close to felony threshold levels.

At the time of her arrest, the woman's twin 9-year-old children were waiting in the vehicle while her husband was deployed with the Army. Deputies placed her under arrest and issued a trespass notice banning her from the Target location.

The case highlights the involvement of minors in retail theft schemes and the escalating nature of repeat offenses. The woman faces shoplifting charges in connection with the incidents at the Palm Coast Target store.