The woman directed her son to change out of his clothes and walk out of the store with clothing they hadn't purchased, authorities said
MARLBORO -- An Englishtown woman used her 11-year-old son to help her shoplift more than $500 worth of items from a local department store, authorities said.
Lisa D'Alessio, 42, was charged with shoplifting and endangering the welfare of a child after she was arrested on charges she used the boy to steal from the Kohl's department store in Marlboro on Sunday, according to police complaints.
D'Alessio, 42, cut off the security tags from the merchandise and hid several watches and men's clothing stolen from the store, police said.
She also had her 11-year-old son change out of his clothes, put on store merchandise and then put his own clothes back on the rack, the complaints said.
The stolen items amounted to $507.38, police reports said.
D'Alessio was being held in the Monmouth County Jail in Freehold in lieu of $2,500 bail.
The child endangerment charge specifically refers to using a person who is 17 years old or younger in the commission of a crime.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.