Berea Woman Reportedly Used Daughter To Help Shoplift

A Berea woman that allegedly used her teenage daughter to help her shoplift has been arrested.

Berea Police Sgt. Jake Reed says December 17th, Peggy Elam, 50, entered Wal-Mart and allegedly stuffed various items in a tote.

“They put the tote in the buggy and she instructed her child to go to one of the slf check outs and pay for two items, some soda I think, so they pay for the two items and they push the cart out with everything in it and did not pay for the items in the tote,” said Sgt. Jake Reed. “At first she denied that she had taken the items but eventually she admitted, yea, she took the items and had asked her child to participate.”

Police say Elam had taken nearly $700 in merchandise. She is charged with theft by unlawful taking $500 or more and Unlawful Transaction witha minor.

Wal-Mart did not pursue charges against Elam’s teenage child.