HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A nine-year-old girl is among six children and one adult charged with stealing from the Walmart on Brook Road in Henrico. The names of the children were not released by police due to their age. Judy Ginelle Warren, 21, is the adult accused of shoplifting from the store along with the children. Warren was charged with multiple counts of child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with single counts of grand larceny and driving with a suspended license following Tuesday afternoon's arrest.
The children, who range in age from nine to 16 are all related to Warren, police said.
Judy Ginelle Warren (PHOTO: Henrico Police)
"It's the reckless behavior, that is what jumps out at you," Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Mark Banks said.
Police were called to the Walmart Tuesday when store loss prevention officers reported Warren and the girls leaving the store with clothes, food and drinks they never paid for.
"Officers responded and when they got there the suspects were actually leaving in a vehicle," Banks said. "Officers made a traffic stop. They found all of the suspects in one vehicle."
Warren was charged for each child that was with her in the store and the car. The children were also charged for their roles in the crime.
"Because they were involved in the larceny, the theft itself. It would be different if she [Warren] was just the one that was involved with the larceny, but they [the children] were involved as well," Banks said. "It's not necessarily that we charge them and they go to court. We defer it and look at the background of the juveniles, what they're involved in, their history. It could be counseling, it could be some type of training or it may be court."
Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Mark Banks
Banks said he was unsure of the motive behind the crime, but said he was sure that adults need to act more responsible while around children.
"Set the example. Be an example. When you are doing things that are criminal, you could be faced with charges because of what you do in front of those juveniles," he said.
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