Surveillance screenshot of the suspect, surnamed Liu, committing the theft. Photo: Sina Weibo

A woman became drawn to stealing after accidentally leaving without paying for an item. The woman was recently arrested by police for stealing pork on 10 occasions over the past month, but still denies it, saying there are many look-alikes.

A woman surnamed Liu accidentally failed to scan an item at a self-checkout in September, and no one contacted her to rectify the payment. 

Encouraged by her unpaid items, Liu began stealing regularly, believing that she could avoid payment. 

Liu would often linger briefly at the self-checkout area, feigning the process of payment, before leaving without completing the transaction.

Over the course of a month, Liu used the same method repeatedly, accumulating nearly 1,000 yuan ($140) in stolen pork products. Following an inventory check that showed numerous items missing, supermarket clerks identified Liu as the suspect from surveillance footage and apprehended her during her latest attempt to steal pork.

Confronted with the evidence, Liu unexpectedly claimed that the person in the surveillance footage was not her. "There are many people in the world looking and dressing similarly, and it's normal for two alike people to appear in a supermarket at the same time," Liu said.

However, when police discovered two boxes of neatly packaged fresh pork in Liu's bag, she ceased denying her actions, and confessed to her crimes. Liu is currently in criminal detention on suspicion of theft, as per legal proceedings.

Global Times-the Paper