Elderly Woman Detained for Stealing Milk
CEBU CITY – A 60-year-old grandmother was detained at the Inayawan Police Station after she was caught taking four packs of powdered milk from a convenience store on F. Jaca Street at around 8:15 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025.
The total value of the items was P452. According to police reports, the woman entered the store, placed the milk in her bag, and left without paying. A store staff member, identified as Michelle Lopez, witnessed the act, followed the woman, and turned her over to the authorities.
The grandmother explained that she is currently unemployed and has no steady source of income. She claimed she had no intention of stealing but simply did not have enough money to pay for the milk. Her situation has sparked various reactions online—some expressing concern and sympathy, while others questioned whether jail time was an appropriate response.
However, police records reveal that this was not the grandmother’s first offense, as she had previously been involved in a similar shoplifting case. Despite the low value of the stolen items, she now faces legal charges.
The case has prompted calls from the public for more compassionate and understanding responses to minor thefts, especially when they are committed out of necessity. Many netizens believe that, instead of imprisonment, individuals in similar situations should be provided with support through proper social welfare programs. It remains unclear whether government agencies will offer assistance to the grandmother, but her case continues to fuel public discussion about justice, poverty, and the need for stronger social support systems.
Meanwhile, this incident is not isolated. Earlier this year, a man in Quezon City was arrested for stealing canned goods and bread, saying he hadn’t eaten in two days. In another case, an elderly woman in Davao was caught trying to take diapers and baby formula for her grandchild.
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