'Novice Dad' Helping Single Mother Steal Baby Formula and Diapers Becomes Police Topic

Gangwon Police Agency Responds to Theft Report
Mr. A Commits Theft to Feed 2-Month-Old Baby

A story has recently come to light about the police extending a helping hand to a single mother in her 40s who stole baby formula and diapers from a large supermarket due to her difficult financial situation, drawing public attention.

According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced that on March 23, a 112 emergency call was received reporting a woman stealing items at a large supermarket in Gwanseol-dong, Wonju City.

A woman in her 40s, Ms. A, tried to leave a mart without paying for about 170,000 won worth of groceries, baby formula, and diapers but was caught by an employee. When the police arrived and apprehended her, Ms. A complained, "My baby, who just left the postpartum care center, hasn't eaten for 10 hours," and "I had no money at all, so even though I knew it was wrong, I ended up stealing the baby formula and other items."
[Photo by Gangwon Police Agency]

The woman in her 40s, Ms. A, attempted to leave the supermarket without paying for about 170,000 won worth of groceries, baby formula, and diapers but was caught by an employee. When the police arrived and apprehended her, Ms. A lamented, "My newborn baby, who just left the postpartum care center, hadn’t eaten for 10 hours," and added, "I had no money at all, and even though I knew it was wrong, I ended up stealing formula and other items."

Officer Go Tak-min (34) of the Chiak Police Substation, who responded to the scene, initially did not believe Ms. A’s story, suspecting it was a tactic to elicit sympathy.

The police visited the one-room apartment where Ms. A lived and found a two-month-old infant crying there. Ms. A, who had previously committed theft twice and was fined each time, was also wanted as a defaulter due to financial difficulties.

Raising the baby alone and living solely on childcare allowances, Ms. A was found to have committed the theft again that day because she could not afford to buy formula.

A story has recently come to light about the police extending a helping hand to a single mother in her 40s who, due to financial difficulties, stole baby formula and diapers for her newborn while going around large supermarkets.
[Photo by Pixabay]

Officer Go immediately returned to the supermarket and purchased baby formula out of his own pocket, then gave it to Ms. A for her child.

According to Yonhap News, Officer Go said, "She admitted her wrongdoing and said, ‘I did it because it was hard,’ which broke my heart," adding, "Despite her difficult circumstances, it seemed she acted out of responsibility for her child, which was heartbreaking." He continued, "Even if she had to go for police questioning, I thought the child’s meal had to be taken care of first, so I gave her the formula."

Ms. A reportedly stated during the police investigation, "I was afraid something might happen to my premature baby who had been in an incubator."

Officer Go said that since becoming a father himself last December, this situation weighed heavily on his mind. The police continued to assist Ms. A by informing her about support policies that allow for installment payments of fines and other aid after providing the formula.

A week after the incident, Ms. A expressed her gratitude to Officer Go. The Wonju Police Station sent Ms. A to the prosecution without detention on theft charges at the end of March.