Two women charged after theft attempt at Schererville Ross
According to court documents, Schererville police were dispatched on September 2, 2025, around 2:20 p.m. to Ross in the 100 block of U.S. 41 after a report of an active theft in progress. The store manager reported that two females had taken large amounts of merchandise without paying and were attempting to leave in a blue SUV.
When officers arrived, they found an elderly driver in the driver’s seat and two females, later identified as Patrice Gaston, 39, and Aaliyah Lashai Smith, 19, in the rear seats. Police observed Ross shopping bags and a laundry hamper filled with clothing, shoes, and other merchandise in plain view. The items still had tags attached.
The store manager told police he recognized both women from a previous theft on August 27. He reported that Smith first exited the store with two Ross bags full of unpaid merchandise and claimed the receipt was “in the car” before walking out. She later returned, grabbed more unpaid items from a cart, and again left the store. Gaston was seen attempting to push a shopping cart full of merchandise past the registers, but when the cart could not leave the store due to built-in security poles, she loaded items into a laundry hamper and exited.
Officers estimated the combined value of stolen and attempted stolen items between $1,700 and $2,000. Police also reported that boxes and merchandise were damaged as tags were being removed.
The elderly driver was not charged and unaware of the situation the females were doing.
Charges filed 09/03/2025:
• Aaliyah Lashai Smith
• Assisting a Criminal (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft, value between $750 & $50,000 (Level 6 Felony)
• Assisting a Criminal (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Theft (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Criminal Mischief (Class B Misdemeanor)
• Patrice Gaston
• Assisting a Criminal (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft, value between $750 & $50,000 (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft, value between $750 & $50,000 (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft, value between $750 & $50,000 (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft, value between $750 & $50,000 (Level 6 Felony)
• Criminal Mischief (Class B Misdemeanor)
Both Smith and Gaston are lodged in the Lake County Jail.
