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PD: Woman shoplifted, crashed car while fleeing

Posted at 1:25 PM, May 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-06 19:25:05-04

NORWOOD, Ohio – A suspected shoplifter caused a head-on crash while trying to flee from an officer, police said.

An employee at the Rookwood Commons Victoria’s Secret store found the woman with a shirt and leggings stuffed under her shirt April 27, according to court records. When confronted, the woman refused to pay for the items and left the store.

Outside, when a police officer approached the woman’s vehicle, the woman moved from the passenger seat to driver’s seat, started the car and drove off, according to police.

While fleeing, the women crashed head-on into another car in front of Buca di Beppo restaurant, police said. Then she ran from the scene. The driver of the car that was hit was treated for minor injuries at a hospital, according to Lt. Ron Murphy.

“She made a very poor decision in fleeing the scene,” Murphy said.

A witness shot photographs of the woman as she fled, which police released Friday in an effort to identify her.

The effort worked, but police said they would not release her identity until she was in custody, and they were giving her time to turn herself in.

“The pictures don’t lie, and once people gave us tips, we did find her,” Murphy said.

The woman faces several charges, including theft and leaving the scene of a crash.

Another woman was also charged in connection to the incident. Tierra Smith, 18, was found with an aluminum foil-lined “booster bag” which can be used to fool anti-shoplifting sensors.

Smith told police she didn’t know the other woman, and claimed she gave the woman money after the woman said she could get Smith something from any store, according to court records.

Police charged Smith with possession of criminal tools and complicity. She was released on her own recognizance.