The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has warned Indian nationals they could have their American visas revoked if they commit serious crimes on U.S. soil.
The advisory was issued days after police bodycam footage of an Indian woman allegedly shoplifting goods worth around $1,300 from a Target store in Illinois was widely shared online.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, is reported to have spent several hours in the store in the town of Normal, before gathering the merchandise and heading for the exit. She was stopped by the store’s employees, who called the police.
The incident, which occurred on May 1, gained traction after bodycam footage from the responding police officers was posted on YouTube.
In the video, a store staff member is heard telling officers: “So basically, we have been watching this girl for four hours. She has taken tonnes of merchandise… different kinds. We are getting a total done for you. It will be well over 500 [dollars] I am sure”…
“No. It will be more”, interjects the accused, sitting in a blue shirt. “You are right!” exclaims the store worker.
The woman can be seen pleading with officers, insisting she had intended to pay and asking to resolve the matter without further action. “Listen! I don’t want to get into any trouble”, she says. “Too late for that, girl”, responds the officer as she asks the accused to get out her passport.
“I’m really sorry… I’m ready to pay for this,” she says.
The woman was handcuffed and taken to the police station. A female officer is heard in the video asking: “Are you allowed to steal things in India? I did not think so”. Officers in the footage say the woman could face felony charges, though at the time of publication she had not yet been formally arrested.
In the wake of the incident the U.S. Embassy in India has issued a public advisory on social media, stating: “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 US laws”.
While shoplifting is typically prosecuted under state law in the United States, depending on the value of the stolen property or the context of the crime, federal charges may also apply. Under U.S. law, terms such as larceny, embezzlement, and burglary cover various forms of theft and are addressed both in federal statutes and in state-specific criminal codes.
