A Mary Alice woman was arrested Sunday at Walmart after she allegedly took over $500 in goods without paying for them. Police said she hid some of the items beneath her infant in a car seat.

Harlan City Police Officer Andy Soltess said he and officers Hunter Luttrell and Terry Jacobs responded to a complaint that a female was inside of Walmart stealing merchandise and concealing it inside of her child’s diaper bag.

Soltess said Heather Woodard, 29, was stopped and asked if the diaper bag could be searched.

“She gave consent to search and several items were located inside of the bag. She then admitted that she was stealing the merchandise. She also advised that there was stolen property inside of her vehicle,” Soltess said. “Consent was given to search the vehicle and stolen property was also recovered from inside. Walmart employees totaled the stolen property to be $511.23. Ms. Woodard threw a needle under the car while officers were searching to the rear of the vehicle. A spoon with white residue was located in the back seat during the search as well.”

Soltess said there was another child with Woodard inside the store that looked to be 5 or 6 years old.

Soltess said several items were found underneath an infant in its car seat in the shopping cart.

The children were placed into the custody of family members.

Woodard was charged with theft by unlawful taking, tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree disorderly conduct.

Harlan County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Cope assisted the officers.