US Santa Police Give Gifts Instead of Arresting Woman Who Stole Groceries

Massachusetts Somerset Police Officer Matt Lima, $250 Gift After Warning

[Asia Economy International Department Reporter] A police officer in the United States has become a topic of conversation for buying groceries out of his own pocket instead of arresting women who stole food to prepare a Christmas dinner for their children.

According to CNN and other media on the 2nd (local time), Matt Lima of the Somerset Police Department in Massachusetts responded to a report of theft at a grocery store on the 20th of last month, five days before Christmas.

The incident involved two women who were caught by store employees trying to sneak some items without paying at the self-checkout.

When Officer Lima arrived at the scene, he witnessed the women with two children.

He said, "I have two daughters around the same age as these children. So I thought of my own kids and felt I should help them."

Officer Lima took one of the women aside to ask about the situation so that the children would not hear the details.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that the other woman, the mother of the children, was in a difficult situation with no income and had stolen groceries to prepare a Christmas dinner for the children.

Officer Lima said he checked the receipt and items and confirmed that all the items they tried to steal were groceries.

Instead of booking the women, Officer Lima gave them a warning not to commit crimes and gifted them a $250 gift card with his own money.

Officer Lima told a local broadcast, "This family was in poverty. They were surprised and very grateful," adding, "But people in similar situations should know that the outcome could be different. They might be arrested or have to go to court."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.