Police Say Mother Used Kids As Burglars

A mother used her 4-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter and two other teenagers to burglarize houses in well-to-do neighborhoods to feed her crack habit, police said Tuesday.

The teenagers would hoist the 4-year-old through a window, and the boy would unlock a door for them, said Police Chief Kenneth Cruz.

The mother, 40-year-old Jannie Boudreau, would drive the getaway car after the teenagers collected TV sets, videocassette recorders, jewelry and other items, Cruz said.

“It’s unfortunate how some children are born with a silver spoon and some are born with sticks,” he said.