Police Officer Purchased A Struggling Mom In Florida $100 Worth Of Groceries Rather Than Charging Her With Shoplifting

Nov 30, 2019 by apost team

After being called in to investigate a woman named Jessica Robles in a case of shoplifting in 2013, Officer Vicki Thomas decided that she needed to do something to help. Jessica had been caught attempting to take $300 worth of groceries from Publix. An arrest would have been warranted, but Officer Thomas took the time to look at the offender's past a bit closer. On investigation, the officer noted that the woman had listed as her reason for the attempted theft that her kids were hungry.

When the woman was asked if she had any food already at home, her answer was, "Not at all." Officer Thomas told reporters that she could empathize with the mother, saying that she knew that as a single mother herself if she did not have the help of family that she could have been in the same situation.

With her new perspective, Thomas returned to the Publix and made a $100 purchase of groceries for the mother and her children. While the mom still had to absorb a misdemeanor charge, she did not get arrested. Plus, she did get the food her family needed, as reported here at News.com.au.

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Officer Thomas was clear that she does not approve of shoplifting but the food banks were not open that night; she still felt that something needed to be done. Those kids were hungry, and despite poor decision making by their mother, they needed to eat.

She went on to say that the children's mother being arrested was not going to solve their hunger and that the kids went through the bags of food like it was Christmas. The two boys and one girl were incredibly grateful for the generous gift.

Thomas told the news that this was not the first time that she or her fellow officers had done similar good deeds. And that the only thing she asked of the mother was to pay it forward when she was able. The officer's good act led to the raising of money for groceries and a job for the struggling mother.

What do you think of this display of generosity demonstrated by Officer Thomas? How do you think the lives of these three children will be different because of being a witness to it? We would love to hear your stories of times when compassion was given, and of course, be sure to let a friend or two know to spread the story of this heartwarming interaction!