A child, who was used as a decoy in a jewelry store robbery and then left in the street, has helped police catch his parents.
The 4-year-old boy was inside the Platinum and Ice jewelry store along the 600 block of South Street on Saturday afternoon when his mom and dad allegedly committed the robbery, Philadelphia Police Capt. Lawrence Nodiff said.
"There is a definitive possibility that by having that child present that the store owner had a reasonable belief that they were genuine shoppers and that he wasn't going to be the victim of a crime," Capt. Nodiff said.
John Benson, 47, and Shakia Stubbs, 33, appeared to be shopping for women's rings when Stubbs created a diversion to have employees buzz open the front door, which used a security lock system, investigators say.
Benson then allegedly reached behind the counter and swiped an entire tray of rings from the case, while the storeowner was distracted, Capt. Nodiff said.
Investigators say Stubbs had held the door open since creating the diversion, allowing an easy escape for the suspects.
The couple took off down the street, dragging the boy by the hand. The storeowner and an employee gave chase, eventually catching up with the parents about a block away.
When confronted by the owner, Benson then slashed him in the face and ditched his son, Capt. Nodiff said.
"The child as a result of a debriefing, the Special Victims Unit was able to give us some information to help us locate the parents," Capt. Nodiff said.
Benson, who has 24 prior arrests, and Stubbs were taken into custody early Monday morning at the Hub Motel along the Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.
Authorities have yet to recover the $50,000 worth of rings the couple allegedly took.
Police are asking the public and pawnshop owners who may have purchased the rings from the suspects to come forward. Officials say they can return the jewelry "no questions asked."
As for the boy, he has been placed in foster care for the time being.
