Woman Pepper-Sprays Dollar Tree Workers After Using Kids to Hide Stolen Items

The Delaware State Police have arrested Janaia Wright, 28, on multiple charges following an incident at a Wilmington Dollar Tree where she allegedly used her children to conceal stolen items and then pepper-sprayed employees attempting to intervene.

According to authorities, Wright entered the store located at 2103 Kirkwood Highway around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. She placed store products under two children seated in a stroller and a wagon before trying to leave without paying. When confronted by workers, she abandoned the items and left the store with her children.

However, Wright later returned to the store after realizing she had dropped her cellphone during the initial attempt. As she re-entered the store, she approached two employees and pepper-sprayed them before leaving again. During her exit, she knocked over a display, damaging merchandise. One employee was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the other declined medical attention.

Wright has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a disabling chemical spray, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, shoplifting under $1,500, and criminal mischief under $1,000. She was arraigned and released on a $5,600 unsecured bond. The incident occurred in Wilmington, Delaware, a city situated along the Delaware River southwest of Philadelphia.

This case highlights the escalating tensions between shoplifters and store employees, as well as the potential dangers faced by those attempting to enforce store policies. Wright’s actions have drawn both outrage and scrutiny, underscoring the broader issues of theft and workplace safety in retail environments.