Copyright inquisitr
A shocking case where parents were practically training their kids to steal has sparked online outrage. A couple who recruited their young kids to help them steal designer clothes worth more than $2,300 have been spared prison. Though they were guilty of the charges, the judge suspended their sentencing due to “childcare commitments.” Iosif and Ana-Mirabella Grancia, the 35-year-old couple, were caught on surveillance footage at Cheshire Oaks Outlet, having a string of shoplifting sprees. They had enlisted their two kids, both under the age of ten, to help the couple smuggle goods out of stores. The couple had several high-end shops under the radar, including Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, and Coach. They were seen stealing handbags, sweaters, and shoes. A June 15 security footage has caught Mr. Grancia placing several items into a bag before they passed it on to one of his kids. The kid then exited from the Nike store with their mother. A few moments later, he returned to grab more things from the store, and this time he left them with the other kid. Just two months later, the family of four returned to the same mall and resumed their operation. Police eventually caught the Grancias after they spotted their Peugeot 308 on security camera. When the cops stopped them, Tommy Hilfiger clothing worth more than $300 and a Coach handbag worth nearly $313. Both parents were arrested and later admitted to four counts of theft. A couple recruited their young children to help them steal designer goods in a ‘disgraceful shoplifting expedition’ https://t.co/ZFUa69FhQH — Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) October 29, 2025 Prosecutors in the court revealed that Mr. Grancia had a long history of handling stolen goods and theft in Ireland and Germany, and had been suspended previously. Despite a similar history, A local judge at Chester Magistrates’ Court decided not to send the couple to jail. Instead, their sentences were suspended for four months and six months for Mrs. Grancia and her husband, respectively. Both of them were also ordered to pay nearly $656 in compensation, according to The Sun. Judge Lowe was very direct during the sentencing. “This was quite a deliberate shoplifting expedition by both of you,” he said. “You involved your children, which is quite disgraceful.” He described the offenses as “serious enough to warrant custody, but said their childcare responsibilities tipped the balance toward suspension.” Some of the observers on social media have criticized the statement. They have argued that the leniency of the judge’s decision sets a troubling precedent. Others believe that the court appeared constrained by social welfare considerations. Sources have reported that Mrs. Grancia works as a cleaner and the family lives on benefits. Still, the judge warned sternly: “If you commit any further offenses during this period of suspension, you are almost certainly going to prison.” The case stands as one of the more disturbing examples of family-aided theft to surface in recent months. It is also a reminder of the ethical lines some are willing to cross, even with children in tow.
