Indian Tourist's 7-Hour Target Spree Ends in Felony Charges

You see stories online all the time, but every now and then, one just stops you in your tracks. This is one of those. A police bodycam video has been making the rounds, and it shows a truly wild scene unfolding at a Target in Illinois. An Indian woman, identified in one report as Avlani, who was visiting the US, was detained after allegedly spending over seven hours in the store, only to try and walk out with a cart full of merchandise she hadn't paid for.

Key Highlights

• ✓ An Indian woman visiting the US was caught allegedly stealing merchandise worth around $1,300 from a Target store.
• ✓ Store staff became suspicious after she spent over seven hours roaming the aisles before trying to leave without paying.
• ✓ A viral police bodycam video captures the intense confrontation where she pleads to pay for the items after being caught.
• ✓ She is now facing felony charges and, according to a legal expert, could face severe consequences for her visa status.
• ✓ The incident, which took place on May 1, 2025, has sparked a massive online discussion about the conduct of tourists abroad.

The Seven-Hour Shopping Spree That Went Wrong

So, let’s break down what happened. According to reports, this wasn't a quick in-and-out job. The woman spent a staggering seven hours inside the store. Staff grew suspicious as they watched her roam around, pick up various items, constantly check her phone, and drift from aisle to aisle. It’s the kind of behavior that, for retail employees, sets off all sorts of alarm bells.

Finally, after this marathon session of "shopping," she allegedly made her move. She tried to walk out of the store's west gate with a cart full of goods valued at somewhere between $1,000 and $1,300 (which is about Rs 1.1 lakh). That’s a significant amount and pushes the crime from a simple misdemeanor into much more serious territory. The staff, who had been monitoring her, immediately contacted the authorities.

The Viral Bodycam Confrontation

Here's where it gets really intense. The entire aftermath was captured on a police officer's body camera, and the footage was later shared by the YouTube channel @BodyCamEdition. In the video, you can see the woman pleading with the officers, trying to explain herself. She says, "I am really sorry to bother you if it is. I am not from this country. I am not going to stay here." It’s a plea for leniency, an attempt to use her tourist status as a reason to be let go.

She then tries a different tactic: offering to pay for everything. "Why can’t I just pay for it?" she asks, later adding, "But if I’m paying for it, what is the harm?" It seems she assumed that simply paying up after being caught would resolve the issue, a misunderstanding that one commenter noted "might have worked in India." But the American officer was having none of it. Her response was blunt and immediate: "We’re way, way, way past that. You committed a felony."

The officer then drove the point home, explaining that the opportunity to pay was back inside the store, before she made the choice to leave. The most quoted line from the exchange, however, came when the officer asked her a pointed question: "Are you allowed to steal things in India? I did not think so." That single question cut through any claims of cultural misunderstanding and framed the act for what it was. Soon after, she was handcuffed and taken to the station for paperwork.

💡 What's Interesting: US-based immigration attorney Alen Takhsh labeled the alleged act a "Crime Involving Moral Turpitude," a specific legal term that signifies dishonesty and can have devastating consequences for a non-citizen's visa status.

Beyond the Handcuffs: The Serious Legal Fallout

This is far more than just an embarrassing moment caught on camera. The woman is facing felony charges, and for a foreign national, the consequences extend far beyond a potential criminal record in the US. The real danger lies in how this affects her immigration status, not just now, but for any future travel to the country.

Immigration attorney Alen Takhsh shed some light on just how serious this is. He explained that shoplifting is considered a "Crime Involving Moral Turpitude" (CIMT). This isn't just legal jargon; it's a category of offenses that involves dishonesty or is seen as morally corrupt. For anyone who isn't a US citizen, being arrested for—let alone convicted of—a CIMT is a huge red flag.

According to Takhsh, if you’re in the US on a student visa, an arrest like this could get your visa revoked. If you're on a visitor or work visa, like an H-1B, it could mean you're not allowed to re-enter the US in the future. It can jeopardize green card applications and, in some cases, even lead to deportation. The bottom line is, the stakes are incredibly high.

"Embarrassing India on a Global Stage": The Online Reaction

As you can imagine, the internet had a lot to say about this. The video quickly racked up over 835,000 views and ignited a firestorm of comments. While a few people wondered if it could be a cultural misunderstanding, the vast majority of commentators were not sympathetic. Many viewers, particularly those from the Indian immigrant community, expressed a mix of anger and shame.

One user summed up a common sentiment, writing, "As an immigrant, you're representative of your country and culture. This woman is a criminal." Another added, "Embarrassing India on a global stage! She ended up making headlines for all the wrong reasons." The consensus seemed to be that as a guest in another country, there's a higher responsibility to respect its laws, a point driven home by a user who said, "I was always very cautious to not break any rule."

The incident also drew comparisons to another recent case involving an Indian student accused of theft in Texas, highlighting a worrying trend. The discussions online weren't just about one person's actions but about the broader perception of a community and the damage such incidents can cause. People weren't buying the idea that she didn't know what she was doing. As one comment bluntly put it, "There is no cultural or language barrier. She knows exactly what she's doing."

Conclusion

When all is said and done, this story is a powerful cautionary tale. It started with a seven-hour wander through a Target and ended with handcuffs, felony charges, and the very real possibility of being barred from the US. The viral bodycam footage provides a raw, unfiltered look at the moment it all came crashing down, but the real consequences are the ones that will follow in court and with immigration authorities.

This single incident has become a flashpoint for conversations about personal accountability, cultural representation, and the serious, life-altering legal trouble that awaits any international visitor who breaks the law. It’s a stark reminder that your actions abroad can have repercussions that follow you home and last a lifetime.