NBC Affiliate Title: Mother accused of shoplifting in Seminole County while children sat alone in car

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SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —

A Seminole County woman is facing charges after allegedly shoplifting at a store while two of her children were left in the car.

Thursday, deputies responded to a Target in Lake Mary around 5 p.m. regarding reports of shoplifting.

According to an arrest report, Latasha Brooks, 31, had one of her children with her when she went into Target and left two of her other children alone in the car.

The arrest report states, “The car was off while two of the children were sitting inside waiting for their mother to come back out.”

Brooks is accused of scanning only some items during self-checkout at the store and failing to pay for the rest.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said Brooks is facing multiple charges, including neglecting children without great bodily harm, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and petit theft.

  • Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    9 months ago

    Without knowing the ages of the children, how long they were in the car or the temperature it’s hard to take a side on this. Also, how much time was spent shopping vs being detained? This is absolute shit journalism for not including these facts in the article.

    Edit: So the video says this was around 5pm. Considering this was in FL it’s safe to assume it was hot as fuck. But we’re still missing important facts like if the windows were open, was the car under a tree, etc. Was she stealing food or televisions…?

      • Urbanfox@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I got left in the car as a kid all the time when my dad went into the supermarket because I’d be a right royal pain in the arse if I came in.

        If it’s cool enough and the kid’s safe and not scared then no biggie.

        I don’t doubt for one moment the race definitely plays a part in who gets charged and who doesn’t.

    • punkisundead [they/them]M
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      9 months ago

      Without knowing the ages of the children, how long they were in the car or the temperature it’s hard to take a side on this.

      Idk, I would expect a shoplifting community take the side of the shoplifter. Folks should not get shamed and criminalized for trying to provide for their family. If the woman left the children in a dangerous situation, I hope she receives the support and education to not do it again.

      • papalonian@kbin.social
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        9 months ago

        The shoplifting isn’t the issue they have here, it’s the “leaving children in the car in Florida in September” that raises issue. Nobody needs education to know not to do this, they know it’s bad but convince themselves it’s “not that bad” then as soon as they get back in the car blast the AC because they can’t stand to be in it for 2 seconds

    • FiveOPA
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      9 months ago

      Thanks! I added the link to the subtext.