[SNS세상]Mother who stole groceries for children… U.S. police buy gift certificate instead of arrest

The story of a police in Massachusetts in the United States not arresting women who were stealing groceries for their children, but rather handing gift certificates to them is a hot topic.

On the 2nd (hereafter local time), US CNN reported that Matt Lima, a police officer in Somerset, Massachusetts, was dispatched after receiving a report of theft on the 20th of last month, ahead of Christmas.

Reportedly, the grocery store clerk reported to the police that the two women tried to steal some of the ingredients in their bags without counting them. The two women left the store with their two children and were caught by a store sheriff.

Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Lima took a woman to a corner where her children were not aware of the situation and asked what she wanted.

The woman told Officer Lima, “The mother of the two children is not working and there is a problem with the family. The thing the child’s mother was trying to take was ingredients for Christmas dinner for the children.” He said he was trying to steal some ingredients because he didn’t have enough money to buy food.

In response, Officer Lima looked at the receipt to confirm the grocery items they bought. And they had the ingredients they were trying to steal back to their original place.

He warned the two women not to steal anything again, but did not arrest them. Instead, Officer Lima purchased gift certificates for $250 (about 270,000 won). This allowed women to shop at other grocery stores.

Lima said, “I have children about the same age as the two children I had with the women, so I wanted to help them.”

Somerset Police Chief George McNeil, who responded by Lima’s response, said, “He showed great character and decision-making. His actions show what it means to protect and serve our community members. It is difficult to feed our children. Instead of punishing my mother, who was faced with, they made a generous decision to let them have a Christmas meal.”

YTN PLUS Reporter Ji-Young Moon ([email protected])

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]