When officer Matt Lima of the Somerset Police Department was called out to a shoplifting crime five days before Christmas, he hadn’t expected the shoplifter’s story to have such a touching impact on him.
When he arrived at the local Stop and Shop after a theft was reported, Matt was surprised to discover that the women behind the crime were actually out with two young children, and their motives for taking the food weren’t purely for selfish reasons.
“The allegation was the two females were scanning some items at self-checkout but bypassing other items and bagging those items,” explained Matt. “Dispatch indicated it was two females and two young small children and they were detained by Loss and Prevention over there.”
As soon as Matt discovered that the women were with children, his paternal instincts began to kick in.
These women must have been desperate to have taken the food in front of their children. Were they taking the food simply so that their children wouldn’t go hungry? As he spoke to them, Matt soon began to learn their story.
“I have two girls myself, similar on age to the two girls that were there, so it kind of struck me a little bit,” said Matt. “The woman I talked to, she 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 Christmas dinner for the kids,” said the officer.
They just wanted to make sure that their children had the basics for Christmas day.
Matt spoke to the Stop and Shop Asset Protection associate and checked the receipt for the items they had not planned to pay for. He discovered that the whole shopping list consisted of just food.
“There was nothing else on there like health and beauty items, shampoo, anything like that. It was all food,” he said. “I asked an employee where the other items were that they had planned to take and was informed they were put back on the shelves.”
While issued to two women a “no trespass” order, Matt decided not to press charges, given the circumstances. But then he went above and beyond in an effort to help the family.
In a truly selfless act, Matt purchased a $250 gift card for the family so that they wouldn’t go hungry this Christmas. It was close in value to what would’ve been taken, so the family would be able to have the items that they wanted after all.
Despite receiving praise for his act of kindness, Matt remains modest about the whole thing, and explains that his empathy for the family led him to be inspired 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?” said Matt. “They were very thankful, they were kind of shocked. 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.”
Matt’s kindness had proved what a credit he is to the Somerset Police Department- and we hope he received a Christmas bonus for himself!
Watch his interview video below.
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