Mom Arrested for Allegedly Sending 9-Year-Old Daughter to Steal Packages
— -- An Oregon woman is being investigated for allegedly sending her 9-year-old daughter to steal delivered packages in the city of Milwaukie, police said today.
Mary Palmer-Correa, 49, was arrested and charged with theft on Dec. 3, police said, one day after a man reported to police that a package had been stolen. Officers had been investigating a series of package thefts, and a photo of Palmer-Correa's car, showing the license plate, led investigators to the woman's house in Oregon City, police said.
The woman then admitted to officers that she instructed her 9-year-old daughter to steal the delivered items while she waited in the car, Milwaukie Police Department Spokesman Greg Elkins told ABC News. The woman posted bail and has been released while investigators gather more evidence, Elkins said, noting she has yet to retain an attorney.
Palmer-Correa could not immediately be reached by ABC News for comment.
The child, whom police didn't name, is back with her mother, Elkins said, noting that the Department of Human Services is also investigating the incident.
Charges may be upgraded once more victims come forward, Elkins said. Right now, investigators have traced at least one package theft to Palmer-Correa, police said.
Investigators found several allegedly stolen items in the suspect's house, including books, a TV wall mount and cups, police said, noting that they haven't ruled out the possibility that Palmer-Correa may have stolen additional items.
"We're looking at possibility of other items she may have pawned or ... resold," Elkins said.
One of the alleged victims told police they may have captured one of the thefts on video, Elkins said, noting that investigators are waiting for that person to send the video to see if it shows the child taking the packages.
