Dad used son to steal from Walmart, Mount Dora police say

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A father is accused of using his son to steal items from Walmart, Mount Dora police said.

Surveillance video showed Edwin Diaz, 47, distract a greeter at the store Saturday evening while his 11-year-old son tried sneaking a cart full with $367.83 worth of merchandise out of the store, police said.

Diaz is accused of telling the store greeter that he had lost his 2-year-old son and needed the greeter's help finding him. Police said that was a lie.

Meanwhile a loss prevention employee asked the son for a receipt for his items, but he said his dad had the receipt. When Diaz was confronted by security, he left the store and jumped into a black car that was waiting for him, police said. Diaz is accused of leaving his son behind.

Diaz was arrested after a traffic stop.

When Diaz was asked where his child was, he said, "probably still at Walmart."

Diaz also denied trying to steal the items and said his son was lying, police said.

The child was not harmed.

Cox Media Group