A man allegedly directed three girls, the youngest of whom was four years old, to steal DVDs from a Sandy Springs Target, police say. The others were nine and seven.

A loss prevention officer allegedly saw Cozy Blackmon instructing the girls, all reportedly his relatives, to bring merchandise to the shopping cart, remove security devices and put them in a plastic bag,  police told Channel 2 Action News.

One of the children was overheard talking about making money at Target that day, according to a police report obtained by the station.

Blackmon was stopped when he tried to leave the store, and a loaded pistol was found in his backpack, Channel 2 reports. He was charged with shoplifting, carrying a concealed weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The incident took place at Target on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs Feb. 25.

Channel 2's Mike Petchenik reports.

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State Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, introduces himself while attending an AAPI mental health event at Norcross High School on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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