iStockMoney is usually pretty tight around the holidays. Luckily, at the same time, some people are a little more generous. Well, at least that's the case this year for one shoplifter and a police officer called to the scene.
A Dollar General store in Tarrant, Alabama called in the police after a woman was caught trying to steal a dozen eggs. Officer William Stacy arrived on the scene, but decided that the woman didn't need to leave in handcuffs.
Instead, Officer Stacy heard the woman out. She had her young children in the car and said she was only shoplifting to feed them.
Tarrant Police Chief Dennis Reno said Officer Stacy talked with Dollar General, who decided not to arrest the woman. Stacy decided to buy the eggs and make the woman an offer.
"He said, ‘If I give you these eggs, will you promise that you won't shoplift anymore?' He knew that she was telling the truth and that's the reason he went in and bought the eggs," said Reno.
Officer Stacy gave the woman her eggs and chatted with her when the woman asked if she could give Stacy a hug. The interaction was caught on video, posted to Facebook and has well over 500,000 views as of Wednesday afternoon.
Reno admitted that police officers "do this all the time" and not every incident ends in being hauled off to jail.
"Of course, these are the kind of stories that never get told… We ask [officers] to take appropriate action, but there are different kinds of actions that you have to take on each individual case," said Reno.
We can't speak for everyone, but Officer William Stacy seems to be one of the good guys. Thanks for bringing a little extra holiday spirit this year, Officer Stacy.