A local mom says she was targeted by a thief seconds after leaving the register at a Target store near Rampart and Charleston boulevards in Las Vegas.
"I had probably only owned my merchandise for 30 seconds," Megan Tiedge said.
Tiedge said she had paid for her stuff and was returning her cart inside the store when she noticed her bags were missing.
"It was all children's clothes and we left empty handed," Tiedge said.
What worries this mother even more, the fact the thief had the nerve to steal the items while her three children sat in the same cart.
"At least it was my merchandise and it wasn't a kid," Tiedge said. "You can't let your guard down at all."
Tiedge did admit to paying more attention to her children than her stuff before it was taken. Many parents 13 Action News spoke to said the same thing.
"I'm always distracted by my kids, I'm never looking behind me and now it's definitely something I have to think twice about," said mother Aspen Ewing.
Retired Las Vegas police Sgt. Richard Strader says your children should always be your priority, which is why parents need to take extra vigilance to their surroundings when they are with their kids.
"If your head's down and you're not paying attention and there are three other people paying attention. You're the target," Strader said.
Strader suggests parents always have a plan. He says park your car close to your destination, place your car seat in a convenient location that is easy to get to and never being distracted by your cell phone.
He also says if your kid is fussing, make sure they are safe and once you have checked, go back to paying attention to your surroundings.
Tiedge did file a police report on the incident.
13 Action News reached out to Target for surveillance video, but the company referred us to police.
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