A toddler was allegedly caught on CCTV stuffing goods into her pyjamas at a shop in Glasgow, with the store owner claiming the child was "trained by a parent" to steal.
Shamly Sud, who runs the RaceTrack Pitstop store in Bridgeton, said she was "gobsmacked" after reviewing footage of the girl, who she estimated to be about three years old, placing roughly five items down her pyjama bottoms. Sud alleged the child's mother and a younger sibling "created a distraction" during the incident.
Incident captured on CCTV
The alleged theft took place in mid-October during the middle of the day and was recorded on the store's CCTV, with the footage later reported to police. Sud said it was "clear" the girl had been "given instructions" by her mother, as the child kept her back to the camera while moving around the shop.
The toddler reportedly set down some items before returning to pick them up and carry them to the till. Sud, 55, who owns 11 stores and has worked full-time in the industry since 2011, said retail crime was at its worst level she had seen.
Owner's account
Sud said: "We found some items missing, and when we looked back on camera, we were shocked to see it was a young child."
"The child could not have been any more than three. She came in with a younger sibling and her mother. They walked round the store, picked up a couple of things and put them down next to some American stock. The child then proceeded to pick up a couple of items and put them into her pyjama leggings."
"They did this a couple of times and then picked up the two items and took them to the till. They had their back to the camera, but you could see them taking items and putting them down. I am just gobsmacked that such a young child has been trained to steal by a parent."
Sud added: "We have all been there when there is a child in a pram who has picked something up by mistake and been 'oh my god' and taken it back. But this was clearly calculated. The essence of a parent is to nurture children to be better than we are. But this child is clearly being taught to steal."
Charity and government response
Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, Scotland's national children's charity, said: "We must not forget that children are the victims. The criminals are the adults who prey on their vulnerability, using fear and control to keep children trapped and silent."
"The scars of exploitation like this can be profound and lifelong, deeply affecting a child's mental health, education and future. Child victims of exploitation need our compassion, understanding, protection and specialist support to recover - not blame."
Last month, Victims and Community Safety Minister Kirsten Oswald said it is important to recognise that children can be exploited into committing crime by serious organised criminals "for their own despicable ends".
The Scottish Government is backing the Fearless campaign, a Crimestoppers initiative encouraging young people to report information about the exploitation of children and to access support.
Dr Pete Cheema OBE, chief executive of the Scottish Grocers Federation, said: "Reports of young children being used to shoplift are deeply concerning, raising alarming questions about the exploitation of vulnerable children by organised criminal groups."
