A woman accused of shoplifting from a Walmart in Hartford, Wisconsin, decided to return to the store on December 6—an ill-timed move that turned out to be the worst possible moment to show her face. She walked in during the store’s “Shop with a Cop” event, when officers pair up with local children to help them check items off their Christmas lists. That’s either staggeringly bad luck or a much-needed wake-up call from God.
Sophia Malak, 24, already faced a felony retail theft warrant from that same Walmart, where she stole more than $600 worth of merchandise, including toys. The economy may still struggle and times may feel tough for many folks, but most people don’t resort to stealing. Nothing justifies taking what doesn’t belong to you. God Himself established private property rights when He gave the commandment against theft.
Malak apparently didn’t realize the event was underway when she returned. The Hartford Police Department posted a photo of the incident and described it as a case of “truly unfortunate decision-making,” before laying out the details.
“Unfortunately for her, she walked straight into Walmart during the one time of year when the store is basically a satellite police station,” the department wrote. “Officers didn’t need any alerts or calls—they noticed her themselves. With a few quick observations and a whole lot of ‘you’ve got to be kidding me,’ they confirmed who she was and took her into custody right there in the midst of Christmas cheer.”
Police Chief Scott MacFarlan said he stood at the register when Malak entered the store. Moments later, he heard over the radio that an officer had identified the suspect. Malak, who had once again filled her cart with items she had no intention of paying for, was taken into custody out of sight of the children attending the event.
After officers arrested her, Malak told local law enforcement she wasn’t there to steal but to buy Christmas gifts for her children. She later admitted she had planned to steal and would have done so again had the officers not been present. When police searched her vehicle, they found another $900 worth of stolen toys. Prosecutors now have charged Malak with retail theft.
The suspect is currently out of jail on a signature bond.
MacFarlan summed it up plainly: “It was a win-win for us. Somebody lost in all of it, but it certainly wasn’t the kids and families that we were able to help that day. It was this person who made a really poor decision and picked very bad timing to steal from our local Walmart.”
As you might expect, social media users had a field day with the story. One person wrote, “Gotta love when the criminals turn themselves in lmao.” Another added, “The best police department ever and the dumbest thief in the state!”
Hopefully, Malak learns her lesson and seeks help for what appears to be a case of kleptomania. It’s also worth noting that we don’t know her true motivation. As stated earlier, no excuse exists for stealing, but people who feel cornered by life sometimes resort to all kinds of unsavory behavior. If that played a role here, I sincerely pray she turns her life around.
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