US embassy issues statement after bodycam footage turns viral ‘Target shoplifter’ into icon

A shoplifter has become an overnight internet celebrity after stealing over $1k worth of merchandise from Target and insisting, “But if I’m paying for it, what is the harm?”

Apps like TikTok and YouTube have a habit of turning the most everyday people into internet celebrities. We saw this most recently with the American woman in Pakistan, a New York City resident who just decided to stay in Pakistan and remake the country.

The new American woman in Pakistan is an Indian tourist called Jimisha Avlani. She stole approximately $1,300 worth of products from Target, with body camera footage of her detainment being uploaded to the Body Cam Edition YouTube channel.

“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, I am sure,” a member of staff told officers before Jimisha Avlani butted in and added, “No. It will be more.”

“Why can’t I just pay for it?” she then asked police officers, who responded, “We’re way, way, way past that. You committed a felony.”

Though she continued to argue that, “if I’m paying for it, what is the harm?”, the officers added: “It would have been fine if you didn’t leave, right? You would have had that opportunity to pay. But because you left the store at that point, you chose to not pay for it, and we can’t go back.”

@minionanthony

Indian target lady 🎯 #target #indian #india #indiantargetlady #fyp #makemegoviralplz #edit #viral #incident #avlanijimisha #fypp

♬ original sound – 𝒶🕷️🕸️.

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The 20-minute video has since been cut up and distributed on TikTok, with individual clips racking up millions and millions of views. Though theft is obviously a serious issue, even if it is a bix box corporation, people have since dubbed Jimisha Avlani everything from “icon” to straight up “queen.”

Beneath a Jimisha Avlani edit on TikTok – because yes, we are at the elaborate edit stage of this viral saga – one person wrote: “It will be more’ Queen knows her worth.”

“Free my diva. She did nothing wrong,” another said.

Someone else wrote: “Free my girl Avlani Jimisha, she was only having a solo girls’ day out!!!”

@selinatheyapper

FREE MY GIRL!!! #fyp #targetlady #indianlady

♬ original sound – selina

TikTok is very much on the side of Jimisha, even if she did commit a crime, and people have accused the officers of attempting to humiliate her.

Here’s what the US embassy said about the Target shoplifter

@bacnarc

she’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment now come on now‼️ #fyp #indianwoman #target #mlm #capitalismsucks

♬ original sound – eric 🍉

Following the viral story, the US embassy in India issued a statement about Target shoplifter Jimisha Avlani.

“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,” it said.

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Featured image credit: Body Cam Edition