A Massachusetts police officer decided to use his own money to buy Christmas dinner for a needy family instead of charging two women with shoplifting.
According to CNN, the Somerset Police Officer named Matt Lima was called to a “Stop & Shop” grocery store on December 20 after store security claimed they caught two women with two small children, putting groceries in their bags that they didn’t scan at the self check out.
Lima kindly took one of the women aside so they could discuss what was happening without the children overhearing. Store employees also helped keep the kids occupied, so they wouldn’t know what was going on.
“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,” Lima told CNN affiliate WJAR.
Lima said he looked over the receipts and determined the women were only trying to buy food. Police said he served them with a notice not to trespass but did not press any charges.
“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?” Lima told the news outlet.
