An 18-year-old grocery store employee was arrested and charged with felony theft after admitting to activating more than $2,400 worth of gift cards and taking $300 in cash to buy food for herself and her younger sister.
According to a bodycam video shared on the YouTube channel Deputy Daniels, the teen confessed to using store systems to activate gift cards without payment between August and November.
“I’ve never been in any kind of trouble in my life. I was just trying to feed me and my little sister,” said the teen.
Visibly distraught during her arrest, the young woman told officers she resorted to theft out of desperation due to a difficult home situation.
“I’ve been taking money to buy food and stuff for me and my little sister,” she repeated her reason for stealing, breaking down in tears as deputies explained she would be taken to jail.
“My mom works a lot, so it’s mostly just me and my sister. I didn’t know what else to do,” she explained through tears during the arrest.
Despite her remorse, the grocery store pressed charges, resulting in her arrest and permanent trespass from the store.
Police reports confirmed that she was charged with organized fraud under $20,000 — a felony that could carry lasting legal and employment consequences.
The bodycam footage shows her cooperating with deputies before being transported to jail, where she was told she would face a judge the following morning for her bond hearing.
“I’m scared. I don’t know how I’m going to get out. I just wanted to help my family,” she said quietly as she was led away in handcuffs.
The case has sparked mixed reactions online, with many viewers expressing sympathy for the teen’s circumstances and calling for compassion in cases involving financial hardship.
