AuthorEditorReading4 minViews2.7k.Published by11.08.2025
😱😲After strange disappearances of goods in my shop, never, even in my worst nightmares, could I have imagined who would appear on the camera recordings…
At 65, many people are already enjoying a well-deserved rest: some move near the sea, others tend to their gardens. I — am still at the helm.
My small grocery store is my child, to which I have dedicated decades of my life.
For me, it is not just a place of trade — it is a whole world.
Many of my customers have been coming here since their youth. I have seen them find love, raise children, and become grandparents. But in recent months, something in this familiar rhythm broke.
At first, small things went missing — a bar of chocolate, a jar of coffee… But then I began to notice that entire shelves suddenly stood empty.
For a long time, I blamed it on inventory mistakes. But when check after check showed the same thing — shortages — there was no longer any doubt: a thief was operating in my store.
I had always been proud of the trust that reigned here. Cameras? I had never even thought of it! But this time, I had no choice. I installed several cameras and told no one.
The next day, I played the first recording. My heart was beating so hard it seemed to echo in the empty hall.
😵And what appeared on the screen made me clutch the armrests of my chair…
Continuation in the first comment👇
I looked closer, not taking my eyes off the screen. The camera was positioned to cover the central aisle and clearly show the shelves from which goods most often disappeared. What I saw truly shook me.
There, moving with unexpected agility and grace, was Mrs. Jain — a kind elderly lady who had been a loyal customer of my store for over twenty years.
I had always greeted her warmly, remembered how her children grew up and saved their pocket money to buy sweets from me.
But now I saw her carefully and discreetly placing products into her large bag — so skillfully that it was hard to believe given her age.
I couldn’t believe that it was her — the person I trusted the most — who was stealing from me.
My heart sank as I watched her slowly move along the aisle, choosing canned goods, bread, and even a few jars of jam — it was like a scene from a film whose ending you already know, but where you still hope for an unexpected twist.
Instead of immediately calling the police, I decided to invite Mrs. Jain to my store and show her the recording. When she saw herself on the screen, her face turned pale, and a few seconds later, tears streamed down her cheeks.
She quietly told me that she had recently been in a difficult financial situation. Her son had accumulated huge debts, and now she had to give almost all her income to the creditors just to get by.
This heavy burden had driven her to a desperate step — she didn’t want to hurt anyone, but saw no other way out.
I realized that it would be unfair to accuse her. Instead, I turned to our neighbors and regular customers — we organized help for Mrs. Jain.
Together, with the entire community, we supported her so she could pay off her debts and return to a peaceful life.
This incident taught me that behind every action there is a story, and that sometimes kindness and understanding are more important than punishment.
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