Police: Woman abandons grandson at west-side Kohl’s after attempted theft

A 41-year-old woman decided she didn’t want to stick around for the police when she was caught trying to shoplift about $200 worth of clothes from a Kohl’s in west Wichita on Tuesday afternoon, so she bolted from the store and disappeared.

In the process, police said, she left her 5-year-old grandson behind.

The incident unfolded at about 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Kohl’s in the 6900 block of West Kellogg, Lt. Joe Schroeder said. The woman was confronted after trying to leave with the stolen clothing, he said, so she returned the clothes but then ran from the store.

The boy was placed in protective custody, Schroeder said. Police have the grandmother’s name and are looking for her.

When she is found, Schroeder said, she faces potential charges of felony theft and child abandonment.

This story was originally published June 17, 2015 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Police: Woman abandons grandson at west-side Kohl’s after attempted theft."