Mother uses kids to steal from department store

AUSTIN, Texas - It was at this Macy's in the Domain, where police said 27-year-old Martha Lopez walked in with four children and a female accomplice.

Police said the women told the children to grab some pillows and walk out. They allegedly made multiple trips in and out.

On one trip, the group almost made it to the door, when met by a loss prevention officer. 
Police said Lopez then punched the officer several times, the other female accomplice ran off in a different direction. During the tussle, the female loss prevention officer ripped off Lopez's shirt while trying to detain her. Lopez then ran out the store with her kids wearing only a bra.

“If you take an item, and obviously you're shoplifting, and you run out of the store knocking somebody down, you've now gone from a Class C depending on the value of the product, to a felony, if that individual sustains any kind of injury,” said Sgt. David Daniels with the Austin Police Department.

That's what authorities said Lopez did, that day in the store, November 12.

“It's dangerous. Even though it's property, when people end up trying to run out of a store with property, and then somebody intervenes, that's when people get hurt,” said Daniels.

Police have a warrant out for Lopez's arrest. Court documents do not identify the second woman who was with Lopez. If she is arrested, Lopez will face a robbery by assault charge.