Cops: Mom led kids on shoplifting spree

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A family shopping excursion turned into a family trip to jail. It was actually a shoplifting excursion involving an Albuquerque woman, her two daughters and one of her daughter’s teenage friends, according to police.

It happened at the Walmart on San Mateo Boulevard SE Wednesday around noon.

Albuquerque police said Esmeralda Mendez, 33, was with her 2- and 16-year-old daughters and the teen’s 17-year-old friend when they were caught shoplifting.

Walmart security first noticed something was off with the group by the way they were acting, so they kept an eye on them. APD said they kept looking at the security cameras as the group was shoplifting.

The security video shows the teen girl looking around and then stuffing something into her shirt.

Police said Mendez was orchestrating the whole thing and held up shirts to block the teens as they stole things.

At some points they said Mendez even left her 2-year-old alone in the cart as the group looked for items to steal.

APD said the teens stole T-shirts and a hat by hiding the items under their clothes. Walmart security stopped the group on their way out of the store.

The woman risked losing her children and going to jail for about $73.

Mendez denied having anything to do with the teens' shoplifting escapade, and police said she even tried to use her baby to duck the charges.

“Once we arrived they were sitting in the area in Walmart with the baby on her lap holding her, you know, trying to soften up our feelings by using her as leverage,” said Mike Alstad with the Albuquerque Police Department.

The 2-year-old was turned over to her father.

Mendez was charged with shoplifting, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The two teens face shoplifting charges.