Thieves Use Toddler as Distraction to Steal Thousands in Jewelry from Auburn Store

AUBURN, WA — A search is underway for a male suspect, and a woman is in police custody, after a coordinated heist at a local antique store where a toddler was used to distract employees.

The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the Antique Marketplace on A Street Southeast in Auburn, Washington. According to store owner Carly Willis, a man and a woman entered the business separately in what appeared to be a calculated plan to bypass the store's security measures.

The Distraction and Theft

Surveillance footage shows the woman entering the store with a young toddler riding on her shoulders. While in the shop, the woman encouraged the child to play a loud game on a smartphone. Willis noted that this tactic was deliberately used to create noise and block the line of sight of the sales associates working nearby.

While employees were distracted by the child and the woman, the male accomplice walked over to a glass display case. Using a screwdriver, he pried open the locked case. In a span of just 40 seconds, the man snatched approximately $10,000 worth of solid gold jewelry. The two suspects then quickly exited the building separately and fled the scene.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

Following the theft, Willis posted the surveillance video online, offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to the identification of the suspects. The video quickly went viral, drawing outrage from community members over the exploitation of a child in the heist.

The Auburn Police Department responded to community tips and subsequently arrested the female suspect. However, the male accomplice remains at large, and the stolen gold jewelry has not yet been recovered. Anyone with information regarding the location of the male suspect is urged to contact the Auburn Police Department.