Shorewood woman arrested after stealing sweaters from Carson’s

For the third time in less than two weeks, the Carson’s security staff at the Louis Jolliet Mall has caught a shoplifter.

35-year-old Alexandria Cummings was arrested by Joliet police on felony charges of retail theft. According to Joliet deputy police chief Edgar Gregory, the shoplifting incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Gregory said that Cummings was seen wandering Carson’s with one large bag. After going to a dressing room, she emerged with two bags full of Carson’s merchandise that she did not intend on paying for.

Cummings tried to discretely walk out of the store without paying for anything, police said. Carson's security quickly caught on and jumped into action. They detained her after she walked outside the store and Joliet police officers were called. Cummings was arrested and taken to the Will County jail.

Gregory said that Cummings had several wire snips and wire cutters hidden inside of her purse. These are items that can be used to disarm the security sensors that most stores place on their merchandise to avoid shoplifters. Cummings’s bags contained women’s sweaters and other clothing, which accumulated to over $300 of stolen merchandise, according to the police.

Cummings is scheduled to appear before a Will County judge sometime Monday afternoon to have her bond set, but she he is in the county jail for now.