Shoplifting Mom Used Missing Daughter Ruse As Diversion: Cops

A thieving mother claimed her 2-year-old daughter disappeared in hopes of creating a diversion and making her getaway, police said.

Jennifer Standridge, 35, was at the Dollar General in Braidwood when she said her young daughter had vanished about 3 p.m. Friday.

Police from several departments, including Braidwood, Will County and Grundy County, launched a search for the girl.

During the search effort, Standridge started acting suspiciously, said Braidwood Police Chief Nick Ficarello, and the Coal City woman’s plan fell apart entirely when officers checked store surveillance video and saw she never brought her daughter into the store in the first place.

Standridge had gathered merchandise and hidden it under a blanket before reporting her daughter missing, police said. Investigators believe she did so as a ruse to divert attention from her stealing.

The child was eventually found at a cousin’s house, Ficarello said.

Standridge was only charged with felony theft but additional charges may be pending. She was taken to the Will County jail.