Hellobee Boards

I applaud the cop as well (who first informed her about food banks and other options in the area before paying for $100 worth of groceries, a portion of the $300 worth she originally stole). She (the cop) educated the shoplifter about what she should have done, and what she can do in the future, but then went above and beyond and met an immediate need. The kids were at home and hungry that day.

I think it would have been kind of her to not arrest her and point her to a food bank... and she took it one step beyond and paid for food. I think I may have done the same if I had heard about kids at home who were complaining they were hungry. Give them this food right now, then get your butt over to the food bank.

But bottom line... shame on the shoplifter... stealing is not right and she SHOULD have been punished!

She wasn't arrested as in she wasn't taken into custody and booked into jail. She will still be charged the same. This is always at the discretion of the arresting officer and a summons is routinely issued without being arrested for a crime (my wife says she would consider littering an arrestable offense.) That in itself is not out if the ordinary and she will be"punished" by the criminal justice system so rest easy y'all.

@Fronkinzankinsbride: Is there a summons being issued for her? Is she being charged?

Issuing non-violent offenders with a notice to appear before a judge at a later date rather than taking them into custody until they see a judge is a very common thing, so it doesn't appear that she's "getting away with it".

I think it's nice to see a positive police story actually get attention. I'd venture to say that this kind of thing is far more common than it seems.