Mother Accused of Using Daughter to Shoplift at Target

Florida resident Lisa Debenedictis, 48, has been charged with petit theft and contributing to the delinquency of a child after allegedly using her 9-year-old daughter to steal items from a Target store in Flagler County.

The incident occurred when asset protection staff reported that a woman and child were concealing merchandise and had just exited the store. Surveillance footage revealed both Debenedictis and her daughter stealing items while inside Target.

The child was seen putting $25.97 worth of merchandise, including 14K Gold Plated Earrings valued at $19.99, Gumi Yum candy valued at $2.99, and Lysol Spray valued at $2.99, into a pink backpack with Debenedictis' knowledge.

Debenedictis allegedly snuck $47.27 worth of merchandise through self-checkout, including organic sugar, Coca-Cola, bagels, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, feminine wipes, an EcoTools blending brush, and Bodi Sands Self Tanning Drops.

The arrest affidavit states that Debenedictis 'purposely did not scan numerous items and placed them into a grocery bag' and that she 'encouraged and assisted' her daughter to conceal unpaid merchandise with the intent on depriving Target.