Recently, a video of 3 women who appeared to be accomplices in the theft of a supermarket in Kuching, Sarawak, has gone viral on social media.
The video, with more than half a million views, is part of a series of CCTV footage shared by D Valley supermarket.
The videos show a group of 6 suspects brazenly stuffing various food items from the store shelves into their handbags.
In the viral video, 2 women first gathered at what appears to be the baby formula aisle. After pacing around for about 20 seconds, a third woman arrived.
At this point, one woman in a black headscarf had already taken 2 big cans of baby formula and put them into a trolley.
She then put the two cans into the third woman’s handbag.
All of this was done right by the cashier, with only a stack of used cardboard blocking his view of the women!
After the third woman left the aisle, the woman in the black headscarf put 2 more cans of baby formula into the same trolley.
Then she and the woman in a pink headscarf each stuffed 1 can of the baby formula in their handbag and shopping basket, respectively.
The woman who placed the can in her shopping basket was frivolously trying to hide the massive can with a piece of paper.
Based on the other videos, it seems like a total of 6 cans of baby formula and a few other food items were stolen by the group.
Netizens are divided
Online, netizens have mixed reactions to the incident.
Some gave the group the benefit of the doubt, citing poverty as a possible reason for their unlawful conduct.
“When the people are desperate because of the increase in food prices, maybe that is the only thing they are capable of doing.”
On the other hand, many said that desperation should not be a free pass to commit theft.
“The child who drinks the milk will not be blessed.”
Additionally, many netizens pointed out that the group looked more like a theft syndicate because their actions looked practised as if they had done it many times.
“People like this are already used to stealing. Maybe that’s why they don’t look scared, but they also didn’t think about how there are CCTVs in all supermarkets.”
“These people are used to coming in groups. They would have 2 cars on standby outside as they work quickly.”
“Once, a group like this was caught. When their car boot was opened, cans of expensive milk powder were found,” another netizen shared.
Watch the full video below:
Posted by D Valley supermarket 永发超市 on Tuesday, July 26, 2022
It seems like this is a lose-lose situation. If the group does not steal, they struggle to make a living, but businesses like the supermarket bear the brunt when they do.
Also read: M’sian Steals Gas Tank 1 Day Before Raya, Netizens Point Out Grim Reality of Cost of Living