Police seeking Chantel Jenkins and Jasmine Johnson, who used her 9-year-old nephew to steal purse at Chuck E Cheese
Authorities said 26-year-old Jasmine Johnson instructed her young nephew to grab a woman’s purse at the restaurant in Brandon, Florida. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for Johnson and her suspected accomplice, 24-year-old Chantel Jenkins.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has issued warrants for the arrests of two Tampa women who allegedly used a 9-year-old boy to steal a customer’s purse at Chuck E. Cheese.
On June 25, Jasmine Johnson, 26, and Chantel Jenkins, 24, attended a birthday party at the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Brandon, Fla. Detectives said, while they were there, Johnson instructed her 9-year-old nephew to snatch a purse that was placed on the counter.
The pair had been eyeing up that area before the incident, officials said.
The surveillance video reportedly shows the boy reaching behind the victim and grabbing her purse. He is then seen running into the seating area and placing the bag on Johnson and Jenkins’ table. Jenkins and Johnson were later seen leaving Chuck E. Cheese with the purse.
Authorities said the victim’s credit cards were fraudulently used at a convenience store in the area that evening.
Police released an edited version of the footage to the media that cuts out the actual event because they are classifying the 9-year-old as a victim. They said he had “no knowledge the purse belonged to someone else,” according to a press release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Both women are wanted on charges of grand theft, fraudulent possession of personal information and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Officials urged anyone with tips about the whereabouts of Johnson and Jenkins to call the Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.
Jasmine Johnson (L) and Chantel Jenkins.
