Couple that used child in thefts arrested
Police believe 8-year-old used to steal iPods from Wal-mart

By MIKE BROWN
Reporter Editor

 A Bryan-area couple whom police believe used their eight-year-old daughter to steal iPods from Rockdale Super Wal-Mart March 10 was arrested in Brazos County last week.
 Police are asking the state to take custody of their four young children, whom investigators think were used in similar incidents at other Wal-Marts.
 Tony Anthony Solis, 25, and 24-year-old Anazayara Cadena were arrested after Brazos County linked them to surveillance video from a Bryan Wal-Mart where children were also used to steal electronic devices.
 “The Brazos County charges were misdemeanors,” Rockdale Police Chief Thomas Harris said. “So Solis was able to make bond and get out before we could get a hold placed on him. But Cadena has an immigration hold placed on her and is still in jail.”
 “We have a warrant on Solis and authorities are actively looking for him in connection with our charges,” Harris said.
 Another woman was seen in the Rockdale Wal-Mart video. “We’re still looking for her,” Harris said.

Child, blanket
 Police said on March 10 two women and one man entered an electronics aisle at Rockdale’s Super Wal-Mart, pushing a shopping cart which contained a young girl wrapped in a blanket.
 “The two women walked to the ends of the aisle to keep watch, the man got a glass cabinet open and started passing iPods to the girl who put them under the blanket,” Lt. J. D. Newlin said.
 “The four left the store through the garden center, still pushing the cart containing the little girl,” Newlin said. Ten iPods valued at $1,900 were taken.”
 “It looked like the girl knew what she was doing,” Harris said.
Veterans
 Harris said Rockdale police have been told the couple is not employed and may have been using the Wal-Mart technique as a way of making a living for the past two years.
 He said the couple have confessed to the Rockdale theft.
 Brazos County authorities said there are three other young children in the family, all of them under age eight.
 Bryan Child Protective Services has been contacted to determine whether the children will be removed from their parents.
 “We obviously don’t think that’s the kind of environment those kids need to grow up in,” Harris said.

mike@rockdalereporter.com

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