Woman Watched Her Children Shoplift, Deputies Say

A woman was arrested at a Lutz Walmart Monday night after Pasco County deputies say she and her two teenage children tried to leave the store with about $280 worth of unpaid merchandise.

According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, the children were observed “removing clothing from the hangers and concealing them in a purse belonging to Walmart.”

The two did this “while their mother stood facing them and watched,” an incident report stated.

Alicia Llopis De Mendoza, 34, also was observed concealing DVDs in her purse, which she then placed in a stroller, the report stated.

After purchasing other items from the store valued at $310, De Mendoza was approached by loss prevention regarding the concealed items.

Llopis De Mendoza, a citizen of Venezuela, did not wish to speak to a representative from the Venezuelan Consulate. A Walmart manager interpreted for her, the report stated.

Llopis De Mendoza said she was unaware that her children had placed items into the purse.

According to an incident report, items recovered on scene at 1575 Land O' Lakes Blvd. store included a variety of infant clothing, shoes, jewelry, DVDs, sunglasses, and a cell phone cover.

Post-Miranda, Llopis De Mendoza denied noticing that the shoes her son walked out with were not the same ones he entered the store wearing, according to the responding deputy’s report. She also said she did not know why the teens would steal baby clothes.

The teens’ father was called to pick them up at the store, the report stated. Llopis De Mendoza was arrested and charged with retail theft. She was released Tuesday, April 10, on $150 bond.