When a Massachusetts police officer saw the list of things two women were trying to steal at a grocery store five days before Christmas, their situation touched him.
“It was all food,” he remarked.
So instead of arresting them, he bought a $ 250 gift card to pay for the Christmas dinner.
Somerset Police Department officer Matt Lima paid for dinner after responding to a phone call at the local Stop and Shop and seeing the two small children with the women who had been caught skipping the scanner at the self-check line and placing different items directly in their bags.
“I have two girls myself, similar in age to the two girls out there, so I kind of noticed,” Lima told local NBC affiliate WJAR.
He was moved to learn that the mother of the two children had no job and that the food they stole was for their holiday dinner. ‘There was nothing for it but health and beauty products, shampoo, something like that. It was all food, ”he said. “I just tried to put myself in the shoes of that family and show a little empathy.”
The shop issued warrants for two women.
George McNeil, Somerset Police Chief, praised the officer in a statement saying, “This incident is a true testament to Officer Lima’s great character and decision-making.”