Indian woman caught stealing in US, pleads and cries before police
Viral video sparks outrage over repeated theft cases involving Indians abroad
Washington: A video of an Indian woman caught shoplifting at a Target store in the United States has gone viral, showing her crying and pleading with police officers as they attempted to arrest her.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the footage — widely circulated on social media — shows the woman repeatedly apologising and insisting she had “unintentionally” failed to pay for the items. Despite officers instructing her several times to turn around and cooperate, she continued to sob and beg, saying, “No sir, sorry. Please.”
The visibly distressed woman asked the officers what would happen to her after being detained. An officer replied that she would be taken to the station, processed, and released within a few hours. The woman also requested to call her husband, but the officers reportedly denied her request.
Although the exact location and date of the incident remain unclear, the video — initially uploaded to Facebook and later reuploaded on other platforms — has triggered widespread debate online.
This is not the first such case involving Indian nationals in the United States. Earlier in May, an Indian woman was arrested at another Target outlet in Illinois for allegedly stealing merchandise worth over Rs 1.1 lakh. She had reportedly spent several hours inside the store before attempting to exit without payment, later claiming she had “forgotten to pay.”
Similarly, in September, another Indian-origin woman from Gujarat was caught leaving a US Target store with unpaid items. She was seen crying uncontrollably during questioning and was later released with a warning, on the condition that she appear in court.
Following these repeated incidents, the US embassy in India issued a warning reminding visa holders that offenses such as assault, theft, or burglary in the United States can lead to immediate visa revocation and potential deportation.
Social media users have described the latest viral video as “deeply embarrassing,” with many calling it a reflection of declining civic responsibility among sections of the Indian diaspora abroad.
