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Women Allegedly Forced 4-Year-Old Girl To Repeatedly Steal For Them


By

John Del Signore

Published May 20, 2014

Modified May 20, 2014


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By

John Del Signore

Published May 20, 2014

Modified May 20, 2014


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The NYPD's pursuit of a pint-sized shoplifter has ended with the arrest of two adults. Tisha Strong, 41, and Shannie Eastman, 39, are accused of forcing a small child to steal for them in at least three Queens businesses. Earlier this month, the NYPD released photos of the suspects, who allegedly coerced Eastman's daughter into stealing a wallet out of a woman's handbag at a boutique in Queens.

Police say Strong and Eastman used the girl for at least two other jobs. On the afternoon of May 7th, police say they forced the child to steal two purses containing credit cards and $170 in cash from The Worthy Pause clothing store in Flushing. A month earlier, they allegedly entered the Empress Travel Agency in Queens with the girl and stole $900 from a cash box located in a back room a bathroom the suspects asked to use.

Strong and Eastman have both been charged with grand larceny, petit larceny, and failure to exercise control of a minor. A police source tells the Daily News that The Administration for Children’s Services has placed the girl in the care of a member of Eastman’s family.

Tagged

grand larceny

kids these days

shoplifting


John Del Signore

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Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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