Sheriff: Macomb Twp. mom sends 11-year-old daughter to shoplift groceries

Macomb Township— Police are investigating a case in which a woman allegedly sent her 11-year-old daughter into a store to shoplift on Thursday, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said.

Kimberly Ryan Swift, 29, of Macomb Township, has been charged with retail fraud and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, he said. Retail fraud is punishable by a year in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. The delinquency of a minor charge carries a penalty of 90 days in jail. A district court magistrate set bond for Swift at $1,000.

Police say Swift allegedly sent her daughter into the Kroger supermarket at 21 Mile and Card Road at about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, officials said.

The girl had a shopping list, and her mother allegedly told her to go into the store and get the items without paying for them.

Wickersham said Swift waited in her car for the girl with her two other children, ages 5 and 8.

After the 11-year-old put the listed items into a shopping cart and walked out of the store without purchasing them, her mother loaded them into her vehicle, he said.

The suspect then attempted to return two bottles of detergent and told a store employee that her daughter bought the wrong brand, police said.

Store security staff determined the items were never purchased and called police, according to authorities.

Sheriff's deputies took the woman into custody without incident, Wickersham said. Officers contacted members of her family to pick up the three children.

Police also contacted Child Protective Services to inform them about the incident, he said.

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