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Parents arrested for forcing their children to steal during a crime spree
A Moreno Valley couple was imprisoned for using their two children in a series of robberies.
According to Riverside Sheriff, Darrell Campbell, 32, and his partner Jeammie Preston, 32, were arrested in Moreno Valley on July 12, 2018.
Meanwhile, the couple's three children were taken into Child Protective Services custody.
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The Moreno Valley Police Department’s Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) began an investigation into a series of robberies within the city of Moreno Valley in June 2018.
A Moreno Valley couple accused of coercing kids to carry out a string of retail robberies appeared in court for robbery, grand theft & child endangerment charges. Investigators say in some cases Darrell Campbell directed the kids to steal & Jeammie Preston drove them away @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/82suzePA5O
— Nicole Comstock (@ComstockNEWS) July 17, 2018
The investigation revealed a couple conspired to commit robbery while using their children to carry out stolen merchandise at major retail stores.
In some cases, Darrell would walk through the stores with children and point to specific merchandise he wanted the juveniles to steal.
The juveniles then would walk out of the business, where Jeammie was waiting in their getaway car.
Pair suspected of using children in retail robberies in Moreno Valley, other inland cities https://t.co/Aey1MGRz0K
— Retail Detail (@world1consult) July 18, 2018
Darrell would pull out a knife to scare stores’ security officers as the children left with the stolen items
CBS Los Angeles reported that Darrell and Jeammie appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday.
"It’s crazy. How many agencies, how many locations are involved,” said Robyn Flores of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Darell Campbell and Jeannine Preston of Moreno Valley are accused of using two children to help them in a robbery crime spree in and around the Inland Empire https://t.co/UZdmZkKtx2 pic.twitter.com/1EF4uL1tpJ
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) July 18, 2018
The multiple commercial robberies were done in nine Inland Empire stores.
The couple both faced conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery, grand theft, and child endangerment charges.
According to jail records obtained by the Press-Enterprise, the culprits are being held at a jail in Banning on more than $200,000 bail each, The Sacramento Bee reported.
The sheriff’s office said that Darrell and Jeammie struck retailers in Eastvale, Glendora, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Riverside, and San Bernardino dating back to October 2017.
Authorities announced that anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Moreno Valley Police Station by phone at (951) 486-6700.
