An Indian woman visiting the United States is reportedly under investigation for allegedly shoplifting merchandise worth approximately $1,300 from a Target store in Illinois. According to authorities, the woman remained inside the store for over seven hours, prompting suspicions from staff who eventually contacted local police.
A police bodycam video that has surfaced online shows a Target employee accusing the woman of attempting to walk out of the store without paying for the items. “We saw this woman roaming around the store for the last 7 hours. She was picking up items, checking her phone, moving between aisles, and eventually tried to walk out the west gate without paying,” the employee says in the video.
Bodycam Footage Goes Viral, Charges Expected
In the video, the woman is seen offering to pay for the items when confronted. “I am really sorry to bother you if it is. I am not from this country. I am not going to stay here,” she tells the police officer. The officer responds, “Are you allowed to steal things in India? I did not think so.”
Watch the full video here:
Despite her explanation, she was handcuffed and taken to the police station for paperwork after the bill was reviewed. As per the video, she is facing felony charges, though she has not been formally arrested yet.
ALSO READ: NRI held for crushing 114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh to death
The video was captioned, “On May 1, 2025, police were called to Target after a woman spent hours inside the store stealing items, ultimately attempting to walk out with thousands of dollars in unpaid merchandise. This is footage of the events that followed.”
The footage has sparked widespread debate online, with many social media users criticising the woman’s actions. One user wrote, “Being an immigrant, I can’t fathom the audacity of being a guest to this country and breaking its laws.” Another commented, As an INDIAN I am enjoying this.I wish the INDIAN Police were this good.”
A third said, “When u think of ICE and deportation, I think of people like this. Not farmers and construction workers.”
Target has not issued an official statement on the incident. Authorities have not released the woman’s name and further legal updates are awaited.
This case follows a similar recent incident involving an Indian student accused of theft in Texas, which also drew significant online attention. Shoplifting charges in the US can have serious consequences, particularly for international visitors, potentially affecting visa status, green card applications, and even resulting in deportation.
