Philadelphia woman used a single phrase to disarm thief trying to steal neighbor's parcels — what she did next was pure kindness
The woman could have easily threatened to call the cops or caught her red-handed, but she used an impactful approach instead.
The power of kindness is often underestimated because we’re so busy chasing the concept of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” But one South Philadelphia resident, Bernadette Williams, chose to do exactly that when she caught a thief red-handed while trying to pick up a package from the neighbor’s doorstep, reported 6abc Philadelphia on March 12.
From her Ring camera, Williams spotted the shady-looking woman, in a hoodie, trying to take the package and run off. She immediately intervened. However, she didn’t use a weapon or threaten to call the cops; she made one statement that made the woman silently leave the package and change her mind. And people are applauding the approach she took.
As soon as Williams spotted the thief trying to pick up the package, she immediately called out from her camera and asked her to put it down. Alarmed by the sudden voice, the woman looked around and put down the package, confused and worried. However, William didn’t condemn her or fill her with contempt but offered kindness.
"I said, 'She's in trouble. How can I make a bad situation better?” Williams recalled. Wanting to be a “part of the solution,” she offered her the few dollars she had in her pocket. Seeing her warm approach, the thief was instantly touched.
After taking the money, the woman quietly left, still puzzled by the incident. However, Williams left her a message to ponder. She asked her to get some help, but before that, she offered reassurance. “You're better than that. I love you. God loves you," she told her.
From the bittersweet gaze of the would-be thief, the resident knew she had done something good. "Her eyes of 'I'm sorry,’” she recalled, assured her that she was guilty. Before leaving, she uttered a soft “thank you.”
Williams only hopes people can exercise more thoughtfulness. In a situation like this, at the spur of the moment, no one would even consider the approach she took, but she made it work.
“She started realizing, ‘I am somebody.’ She started realizing that there is somebody out here who cares,” Williams said. She reportedly also mentioned that the woman apologized and said that her words had left a hopeful impact on her. Somehow kindness wins. “And I hope that she will be fine. And I have faith that she will be fine," she added.
Often, a lot of people shoplift or steal because they have no other option for survival. They are moved to such dire states that any immoral approach, as long as it gets them something, is the way to go. It doesn’t justify their actions but calls to light the need to exercise thoughtfulness even in a situation that may feel overwhelmingly negative.
According to Metro News UK, one in 10 young adults reported that they steal from grocery stores because of the high cost of living. 37% of young adults have been seeking financial help to get simple things like groceries and essentials.
ZipZero chief executive Mohsin Rashid explained, “With a staggering number of adults actively turning to petty theft and food banks to reduce costs, food inflation is changing social norms and redefining life standards in the UK.” And the case is no different in the United States.
A LendingTree survey of around 2,000 Americans revealed that over one in 5 Americans shoplifted. 90% of shoplifters confessed they were pushed to consider the crime due to inflation and rising costs. 52% of shoplifters said they got away with it.
It pushes one to think about how heartbreaking the situation of so many is that they have to resort to these practices. It was likely the case of the woman in this story as well. However, her title changed from a thief to a “would-be-thief,” all because of a stranger’s kindness, and many praised her for that.
@shawqynn3326 wrote, “Spoke life into her..might be just what she needed.” @Meo9131 added, “Grandma saved her life because if she was caught, she'd be facing federal charges.”
More on Scoop Upworthy
Truck thief returns vehicle along with a mysterious note — leaves owner shell-shocked
Man stops a bank robbery with a single act of kindness towards the thief: 'He started crying'
Share on Facebook
