Two Convicted of Robbing Philly Store, Leaving Child

Police have yet to recover jewelry worth $50,000

A Philadelphia jury convicted a couple of stealing more than $70,000 worth of rings from a jewelry store last year -- and leaving their 4-year-old son behind.

The Common Pleas Court jury deliberated for about five hours Monday and Tuesday before convicting 48-year-old John Benson and 32-year-old Sheakia Stubbs in the February 2010 robbery of the Platinum & Ice store, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Benson was convicted of the most serious charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault on jeweler Yaniv Cohen, whose throat was slashed after he chased and confronted the robber. Benson was also convicted of robbery, conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment. Stubbs was convicted of conspiracy, retail theft and child endangerment.

Both are to be sentenced Sept. 21.

The child, who was used as a decoy in a jewelry store robbery and then left in the street, allegedly helped police catch his parents.

The 4-year-old boy was inside the Platinum & Ice jewelry store along the 600 block of South Street 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.

Benson and Stubbs 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 said.

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 at the time.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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