A 33-year-old woman and her 15-year-daughter from Kalamazoo were arrested on several charges including organized retail fraud and assault on a security officer after Battle Creek police said they were caught shoplifting items at five stores at Lakeview Square Mall, 5775 Beckley Road.
Police were called at 8:13 p.m. Friday after a customer notified a clerk at the Victoria's Secret store that a young girl was stealing items.
The clerk found the girl crouched down and scooping items into a large shopping bag. When confronted, the girl left. A security officer followed her and the girl's mother, who also was involved. When the security officer attempted to stop the woman she got into the driver's seat and struck the security officer as he attempted to avoid the vehicle.
He was not injured.
He was able to restrain her until police arrived. The girl fled across Beckley Road but was apprehended near Target. Police said the pair stole about $2,300 in items from Victoria's Secret, The Buckle, Route 21, Hot Topic and Campus Den, using bags that were modified so security devices were not detected.
All the merchandise was returned to the stores. The girl was taken to the Calhoun County Juvenile Home on retail fraud charges.
The mother was taken to the Calhoun County jail on charges of organized retail fraud, assault with a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana and an unrelated warrant.
