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Central Pa. Woman Spends Night In Walmart Then Flees With Stolen Merchandise

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Police in Lancaster County said a woman spent the night in a 24-hour Walmart with her three young children before being arrested as she left the following morning with more than $500 in stolen merchandise.

East Lampeter Township police said 40-year-old Heather Lynn Defreitas had been in the store with the children from 10:30 p.m. Tuesday until her arrest 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Detectives said her children — ages 3, 6 and 7 — spent most of the time sleeping in a shopping cart.

Defreitas is charged with corruption of minors, plus a felony count of retail theft due to multiple prior shoplifting arrests.

She was released after posting $500 bail. There was no phone listing for her and she couldn't be reached for comment.

The children were turned over father.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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