Report: Aunt Tells 9-Year-Old To Steal Purse At Chuck E. Cheese's

It's not unusual to have cameras on at a birthday party, but when surveillance cameras catch a 9-year-old stealing a purse, its footage fit for a law enforcement investigation.

That's the word from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which issued a report today, July 3, about a June 25 incident at the Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant at 1540 Brandon Blvd.

At about 8:25 p.m., two women, Jasmine Daneishamonique Johnson, 26, and Chantel Ciarra Jenkins, 24, were at Chuck E. Cheese's for a birthday party with Johnson's 9-year-old nephew, who allegedly took the purse after being directed by his aunt to do so, according to the report.

It notes as well that later in the evening, "the victim's credit cards were fraudulently used at a local convenience store."

At Chuck E. Cheese's, the boy "reached behind the victim and grabbed the purse off the counter," according to the sheriff's office report. "The child then runs into the seating area, where he places the purse on a table, where the two suspects are located."

An edited version of the surveillance video has been released to the media (see attached), in which both suspects are seen leaving Chuck E. Cheese's, "with Chantel Jenkins carrying the purse," according to the report. The portion of the surveillance video that depicts the boy stealing the purse has been edited to avoid identification; the 9-year-old was being classified as a victim.

Detectives later determined that the boy "had no knowledge the purse belonged to someone else and was directed by his aunt, Jasmine Johnson, to steal the purse." 

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Daneishamonique, of 4410 Courtland St., Apt. 310, in Tampa. She faces charges of third-degree grand theft, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and fraudulent possession of personal information. Also, on the same charges, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Jenkins, of 1005 7th Avenue East, Tampa.
 
The sheriff's office seeks the public's help in locating both women.
  
Call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200. To be eligible for a cash reward, with information leading to an arrest, call  Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477). Report anonymously online at Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay. Or text, "CSTB [plus your tip] to, C-R-I-M-E-S (274637).