Kids are adorable and we suppose they could make adorable decoys if one was trying to shoplift at Walmart. But if you’re going to involve small children in your criminal activities, it’s probably not a great idea to leave them behind.

According to police in Louisville, the 19-year-old would-be pilferer entered a Walmart along with an 18-year-old female and two children, ages 3 years and 18 months. But when he tried leaving, the Walmart loss-prevention folks sprung into action.

“Store security attempted to stop the suspect, but he fled the scene, leaving two small children,” police tell WDRB-TV, adding that his actions, “left the children at risk of physical injury.”

Police say the woman, who had been banned from the store earlier this year after being caught stealing, eventually tried to retrieve the kids from the store, but that’s when the loss-prevention staff noticed several items of makeup under the baby car seat.

Both the man and woman face charges of theft and endangering the welfare of a minor.

POLICE: Man left young children at Louisville Walmart [WDRB.com]

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