Once again the US Police has proved that sometimes humanity is more than Law. This happened in Somerset, Massachusetts, during the Christmas season.
US Police officer Matt Lima was called by Stop and Shop Supermarket security guards to charge two women along with two young children. Reason? They had shoplifted. They didn’t scan all of their shopping at the self-checkout. All the four were kept inside till the police arrived.
After reaching the supermarket, Matt started to enquire about one of the ladies while the young children were distracted by the staff. While interacting with the lady, Matt came to know that they were facing a hard time and they tried to steal to give the children’s Christmas dinner. He also found out that the stolen items were mostly food items.
That was the time, he took a surprise decision not to charge them.
“The woman I talked to, explained she was working, but the mother of the children was not working and had some other family issues going on and that what she had taken was a Christmas dinner for the kids,” the officer told.
He also told “The two children with the women reminded me of my kids, so I had to help them out.” “Obviously, this family was in need and I can’t imagine having to make the decision to go to Stop and Shop and just only pay for what I can afford – or do I go there and try to take things for Christmas dinner for the kids?”
Next, what he did was really a heart-touching one. He gave them $250 (£178) worth of gift cards, which he bought with his own money. Now they could get food for Christmas at another Stop and Shop store.
“They were very thankful, they were kind of shocked,” Matt said. “I’m sure a lot of people in that same situation would be thinking that there was going to be a different outcome, and maybe they would be arrested or have to go to court.”
Somerset Police Chief George McNeil said: “This incident is a true testament of Officer Lima’s great character and decision making. “His actions exemplify what it means to protect and serve the members of our community.”
