Two people from Brooklyn, NY, that allegedly have a history of stealing from the Shippensburg Walmart, have now been charged with similar crimes as well as child abuse. Edwin Santiago Jr. and Darlene M. Baquero are both being held in Cumberland County Prison on $150,000 bond after being charged with felony retail theft, criminal endangering the welfare of children, felony corruption of minors, and felony retail theft conspiracy.
Around 12:26 p.m. on June 2nd, Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the Walmart on S Conestoga Drive in Shippensburg for a reported active retail theft. Troopers said the reported suspects, Darlene Baquero and Edwin Santiago Jr., fled the area, leaving behind a toddler.
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According to troopers, Santiago Jr. and Baquero were known to the Walmart site “through prior history involving Walmart Loss Prevention.” According to PSP, the male kid left behind was 14 years old. As Santiago Jr. and Baquero departed the store with the stolen stuff, PSP claims that they left the juvenile inside to pay for lawfully purchased things. Around three hours later, PSP says Baquero and Santiago Jr. returned to the business, most likely to retrieve the missing kid, but were both arrested. Another juvenile, aged 12, was there with the couple at the time.
According to further interviews with Santiago Jr. and Baquero, “a third child, 17 years old, was left with the suspect vehicle in a nearby parking lot.” Troopers spotted the described vehicle at 6:47 p.m. and found the 17-year-old still residing there.
PSP and Walmart Loss Prevention had already identified Santiago Jr. and Baquero in two retail theft incidents. On August 27th, 2024, PSP reports that Santiago Jr. removed a computer monitor (worth $340) out of the package and fled the store with it concealed in his pants before walking out. He was accompanied by Baquero and two people with blurred identities, most likely juveniles.
On May 17th, 2025, PSP reports that Santiago Jr. removed things from their boxes throughout the store and disguised them in his jacket before leaving without paying for a total of $766.60 in merchandise. Discarded boxes were seen throughout the store.
Darlene Baquero and Edwin Santiago Jr. remain in custody on $150,000 bail.
