Women Accused Of Smuggling Stolen Video Game Controllers In Diaper Bag

A pair of women women are accused of trying to smuggle $600 worth of stolen video game console controllers in a diaper bag.

Samantha Eslinger and Kimberly Griffin, who are both 20, were arrested Friday around noon in the Target parking lot.

Store security spotted them cutting the controllers out of their packaging with scissors and stashing them in a diaper bag, Mentor Police Lt. Tom Powers said. They took five PlayStation and seven Wii controllers before they were stopped in the parking lot by police.

After a brief struggle with Eslinger, police arrested both women.

Police found the scissors on Griffin and the bag filled with stolen controllers in a shopping cart that Eslinger was pushing, along with Eslinger's 4-year-old son, Powers said.

When police searched Griffin, who lives in Mentor, they also found credit cards that were reported stolen earlier this month at , Powers said.

The credit cards were swiped along with the rest of the business owner's wallet. Powers said police didn't have any leads in the theft until they found the cards on Griffin.

Eslinger, who lives in Painesville, was charged resisting arrest, theft and receiving stolen property.

Griffin was charged with theft, receiving stolen property and possession of criminal tools. The criminal tools, in this case, refer to the scissors.

Eslinger's son was given to other family members.

Griffin will likely be arraigned in Monday, followed by Eslinger on Tuesday.

The following arrest information was supplied by the Mentor Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this story, email jason.lea@patch.com.