A Missouri woman was caught on camera allegedly stealing a personal gift during a grand opening.
The video was shared by cosmetic surgeon Dr. Zach Willis, who was celebrating the grand opening of a new building when the alleged theft occurred. Security footage from the event showed the woman standing with a female companion near a table where the doctor had placed a personal gift.
The video showed the woman looking at the bag containing the personal gift before picking it up. She appeared to tell her companion, “I’m taking it.” When people later approached her, she allegedly seemed to believe that she had been caught, although no one appeared to confront her about the gift at that moment.
The woman then tore the tag from the gift bag and placed it on the table. The doctor later shared a picture of the tag, which showed that the gift was intended for him and had his name on it. After removing the tag, the woman and her companion began leaving, still holding the gift.
Dr. Willis then showed security footage capturing the moment someone told him a gift was waiting for him. At the same time, the woman appeared to walk past him. He later showed footage of the two women leaving the building with the gift bag still in their possession. The doctor wrote over the video, “Left with all the free things we provided AND my gift.”
In the caption, the doctor asked people in St. Louis for help identifying the woman. “A personalized gift that was made specifically for me was picked up and taken by another attendee. It has very little value to anyone else, but it has tremendous sentimental value to me. Someone put time, thought, and effort into creating something I was supposed to keep and remember forever,” he wrote.
Dr. Willis made it clear he wasn’t sharing the footage to shame anyone and said his main goal was to get his gift back. He also addressed the woman directly in case she saw the video, assuring her that there would be no drama or confrontation if she returned the gift. As of now, there has been no update indicating that the woman has returned it.
Viewers Criticize Missouri Woman for Allegedly Stealing Gift
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers criticized the Missouri woman after seeing the video showing her allegedly taking a gift that was not meant for her. Some argued that people should be more mindful of the consequences of their actions. “Wow, the audacity of some people,” one person wrote. Another person said, “can’t wait for tiktok to blow this up and bring me back tonight when someone knows her.”
More people criticized the woman over the alleged theft. One person advised the doctor, “I’d be going through everyone who registered and looking at their social media…I can’t stand for people to steal. That’s just so low.” Another person asked, “This is so awful. Why are people so entitled to take what is not theirs?”
The video also raised concerns about how losing a stolen item can have a significant emotional impact on its owner. This is particularly true when the item has sentimental value. It also showed how security cameras and social media can help identify people allegedly involved in thefts. This can also help owners recover their belongings.
