Matt Lima, a police officer in Somerset, Massachusetts, was called to Stop & Shop after the owners reported that shoplifting was in progress.
Upon Lima’s arrival at the scene, a worker told him that he saw two women with two young children allegedly not scanning all of their groceries before putting them in bags at the store’s self-checkout.
Receipts also showed that several items the women had taken were unpaid.
After talking to the accused women, Lima discovered they did not have the money to pay for their groceries, which would provide a Christmas dinner for their family.
Lima gave them a ‘no trespass’ order but made the decision not to press any charges.
Using his own money, the officer then purchased gift cards in the amount of $250 so the women can purchase the grocery items for their Christmas dinner at another store location.
“The two children with the women reminded me of my kids, so I had to help them out,” Lima said.
The officer told WJAR that he ‘just did what I felt was right’.
“Obviously this family was in need, and I can’t imagine having to make the decision to go to Stop & 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?”
“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,” Lima added.
“I bought the gift card close in value to what would’ve been taken. I just did what I felt was right. It’s not about me, I just tried to put myself in that family’s shoes and show a little bit of empathy.”
George McNeil, Chief of the Somerset police force has said the incident is a ‘true testament of Officer Lima’s great character and decision making’.
“His actions exemplify what it means to protect and serve the members of our community,” McNeil said. “When faced with a difficult situation in which a family was trying to provide a meal for their kids, he made the generous decision to not press charges and instead ensured that they would have a Christmas dinner they could enjoy.”