A Machesney Park woman is behind bars, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating, and a Yorkshire terrier is safe and sound, back at the store it was stolen from two days ago.

It was a scary and stressful 17 hours for the staff at the CherryVale Mall Furry Babies: A woman and her three children visiting the store Tuesday afternoonwalked away with one of the pet store’s valuable dogs.

It’s happened only once before, store manager Victoria Mendoza said. That time the puppies were returned in a matter of minutes. This time, staff didn’t know whether they’d ever see the 8-week-old pup again.

“We were all pretty upset,” she said. “It was scary. We were just praying our dog was going to be safe. We called mall security and called police. I immediately started looking at the security camera footage.”

What Mendoza saw shocked her. The video shows a woman — later identified by police as Robyn Kersh, 28 — distracting the employee and blocking the employee’s view as her 10-year-old daughter reaches into a crib, grabs the dog and rushes out of the store.

Mendoza shared the video with police. Then she shared it with her friends on Facebook and on the Furry Babies Facebook page. The video got more than 300 shares, Mendoza said. It took only a couple hours and Mendoza received several tips identifying Kersh as the woman in the video.

Police went to Kersh’s house Tuesday night and questioned her about the dog but were unable to locate it. The next morning, the children’s father returned the puppy to the store.

“He saw what his daughter did on social media,” Mendoza said. “His main concern was for her and what might happen to her.”

Cherry Valley police arrested Kersh on Wednesday evening. She’s been charged with felony retail theft and contributing to the delinquency of a child. She is in the Winnebago County Jail, pending bond.

“It’s not the norm, but it’s something we come across sometimes,” police Chief Larry Neville said. “Sometimes you’ll get a mother or father who uses a child to conceal product to steal. ... You have some parents who just don’t care what they involve their children in. If they get caught, they hope they can use their children as scapegoats.”

Police notified DCFS after the arrest.

The agency is investigating Kersh for neglect, spokeswoman Veronia Resa said. She has not been investigated previously.

Furry Babies’ employees go over extensive instructions with new dog owners before the animals are allowed to leave the store, Mendoza said. Instructions include when and how to feed the dog, when to follow up with a veterinarian and how to train the dog.

“We have a whole presentation. We want to get to know people and know where our dogs are going,” she said. “It’s a great feeling to send a dog home that way. ... When it’s in that fashion like Tuesday, you’re just worried sick. You don’t know if the dog is eating.

“I don’t think any of us slept that night.”

Mendoza has rearranged the store’s cribs, which serve as holding and display areas, and is keeping two of the three entrances gated shut for now. The new layout will assist employees in keeping an eye on puppies and customers.

“We’re just really happy she’s back,” Mendoza said Thursday afternoon as she held the puppy and showed it to curious shoppers. “We all cried. She was just kissing our faces and going crazy.”

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x Video questions:

In your short paper, Summarize the two videos to prove to me that you watched them. Key points, ratings would be good.

Here's a question on the woman on the roller skates in Chicago, that didn't pay. Imagine she has a daughter, who says "all the kids at school saw this on TV and think you are an awful mommy!

Mommy why did you steal? Should I steal too?"

Do you think the woman was thinking about the consequences of her actions?

What would you do if she worked for you? Keep her, fire her? Why or why not.

On the Article:

What do you think of a mom that uses her daughter to steal?

From the article: Who turned in the mom? Why?

What would you do if this woman worked for you?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

In your short paper Summarize the two videos to prove to me that you watched them Key points ratings would be good ANSWER The first video shows a woma... View the full answer