A Cape Coral woman was arrested after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Target.
Cape Coral police say they responded to Target on NE Pine Island Road on Saturday for reports of a theft that occurred a day prior.
Target's loss prevention staff told police that an unknown adult female, later identified as Elizabeth Novac, 23, came into the store with a child under the age of 10.
Loss prevention provided video that captured Novac loading up a cart with merchandise before giving it to the kid and using the child to walk out of the store.
The value of the stolen items was estimated at $1,111, including a barista machine and a vacuum cleaner.
Detectives began investigating and sent Novac's picture to other officers and detectives.
On Thursday, an officers responded to complaints of a woman panhandling. Officers say they recognized the woman as Novac.
The investigation revealed that Novac loaded the cart with merchandise before separating from the child and pointing at the exit doors to intentionally send the child out of the store with the stolen goods.
Novac followed the child shortly after.
Novac was arrested and is facing one count of grand theft and one count of contributing to delinquency of a minor.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.