US Embassy Issues Visa Warning After Indian Woman Caught Shoplifting in Illinois Target Store
The US Embassy in India has issued a strong advisory to foreign nationals following an incident involving an Indian woman allegedly attempting to shoplift merchandise worth over $1,300 (Rs 1.1 lakh) from a Target store in Illinois.
The embassy emphasized that criminal offenses such as theft, assault, or burglary can not only lead to prosecution but may also result in immediate visa revocation and future ineligibility for US visas.
In an advisory posted on X (formerly Twitter), the US Embassy stated:
“Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won’t just cause you legal issues – it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future U.S. visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all U.S. laws.”
According to police reports and viral footage circulating online, the incident occurred on May 1, 2025, at a Target outlet in Illinois. The woman in question allegedly spent over seven hours in the store, slowly filling her cart with items while moving between aisles and checking her phone. A Target employee flagged her behavior, and store staff called the police when she tried to exit without paying.
Bodycam footage released by local police shows the confrontation between the store staff and the woman. She reportedly offered to pay for the items when stopped but was taken into custody.
One officer is heard questioning her ethics, asking:
“Are you allowed to steal things in India? I did not think so.”
The woman is reportedly facing felony-level theft charges, though she has not yet been formally arrested. Legal proceedings are pending.
Under US law, offenses like larceny, embezzlement, robbery, and burglary are serious crimes. Depending on the nature and value of the stolen property, charges can escalate to federal offenses. The US Embassy’s warning serves as a reminder to foreign nationals that violating US law can have long-term immigration consequences.
How a long day in Target exposed an Indian tourist’s Rs 1.1 lakh shoplifting attempt
Indian woman cries and pleads after being caught shoplifting in US: ‘Sorry sir’
Published on: Nov 02, 2025 01:26 pm IST
An undated video shows an Indian woman crying and pleading with US law enforcement agents after being caught shoplifting from a Target store.
An undated video shows an Indian woman crying and pleading with US law enforcement agents after being caught shoplifting from a Target store. The clip has been viewed millions of times on social media, but the exact location and date of the incident remains unconfirmed.
HT.com has not independently verified the authenticity of the video.
Video shows woman crying
In the clip, the woman was seen repeatedly apologizing to police officers. She claimed that she had simply forgotten to pay for items found on her person.
The police officers asked her to turn around repeatedly, but she continued crying while refusing to obey instructions. “No sir, sorry. Please,” she sobbed with her hands folded.
The original video appears to have been shared on Facebook three days ago but has since been deleted. Several versions of the video are still available online.
In the video, the woman asked what would happen to her after she was handcuffed. A police officer explained that she would be taken to the police station and released. The whole process would take a couple of hours, they told her.
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The woman cried and said she wanted to contact her husband. This request was denied.
(Also read: Indian women caught shoplifting in US ask ‘Will this affect H-1B process?’)
It is not clear what the woman shoplifted from the Target store. However, her act has been widely condemned on social media.
“They see large scale looters in their own country getting clean chits, so they think stealing little stuff is not a big deal,” wrote one viewer on X.
“Why do they steal from the US. And from other countries where they travel. They steal from 5 star hotels and supermarkets and even jewellery shops. And guess these are highly educated 1% Indians who can afford foreign education and foreign travel,” another person asked.
“This begging & bribing usually works in India,” a user added. “She thinks she can get away with it by crying and begging but unfortunately it’s not India,” another said.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
