Woman spends night in Walmart with three young children, steals merchandise
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LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A central Pennsylvania woman accused of spending the night in a 24-hour Walmart with her three young children and leaving with more than $500 in stolen merchandise has been sentenced to two to five years in state prison.
Prosecutors in Lancaster County said 42-year-old Heather DeFreitas was sentenced after pleading guilty last week to retail theft and corruption of minors.
Police in East Lampeter Township said DeFreitas spent hours in the store in March 2014, filling three carts with items and stuffing more into two purses.
Detectives said the children — aged 3, 6 and 7 — spent most of the time sleeping in a shopping cart.
Police allege that when she left, she had her daughter push a cart from the store while carrying one of the stuffed purses.