Social media is currently abuzz with a video depicting the interrogation of an Indian woman apprehended for shoplifting at a Target store in the United States. Though the incident occurred in January, the video has recently resurfaced, gaining significant attention. The woman reportedly admitted to stealing goods valued at approximately ₹1 lakh. The video, lasting around 10 minutes, shows the woman appearing extremely distressed during the police interrogation, exhibiting frequent crying, gasping, and signs of distress. Law enforcement noted she was hyperventilating for over an hour and offered medical assistance. In the video, the woman identifies as being from India, with Gujarati as her native language. It was also revealed that she had allegedly stolen from the same Target store on multiple previous occasions, without being caught until this instance, where the stolen goods were worth over ₹1 lakh. During questioning, she indicated her intent to resell the stolen merchandise. Despite the circumstances, the police chose not to formally charge her, instead opting to issue a warning before releasing her.
The online response to the incident is highly polarized. Some commentators have minimized the severity of shoplifting in the US, with some suggesting that it is a common occurrence and that police typically have a threshold for the value of stolen items before taking action. In contrast, other users have voiced objections to connecting the woman’s actions with her nationality, criticizing what they perceive as a tendency to negatively portray Indians. The video continues to be widely shared, sparking significant debate across social media platforms.