7-Eleven Owner Shows Unbelievable Kindness to Young Thief Instead of Calling 911

The owner of a 7-Eleven spotted a teenage shoplifter in his store, but what he did next astounded the thief and has gone viral on social media.

On April 6, 2019, Jay Singh, the owner of a 7-Eleven in Toledo Ohio spotted a teen loitering at the back of the store.

Singh quickly realized the youth was stealing from him and asked an employee to call 911. What happened next was so unexpected that it has taken social media by storm.

“He said, ‘I’m hungry. I’m stealing it for myself and my younger brother.’ I said you need food? I’ll give you food. That’s not a problem.”

SINGH ACCOSTED THE SHOPLIFTER

While his employee got on the phone, Singh accosted the shoplifter who immediately told him he's put everything back on the shelves.

Singh asked him to put everything he had taken on the counter and asked him why he was stealing:

"He said, 'Oh, I'll put it back.' I said 'No, put everything on the counter. I want to see all the things that you have.'"

STEALING FOOD FOR HIS BROTHER

The boy confessed that he was hungry, and was stealing food for himself, and his younger brother.

Singh's response astounded the teen and has inspired millions throughout the country.

"I'LL GIVE YOU FOOD"

Singh proceeded to fill a bag with food for the boy and his brother. He gave them sausages, pizza, and chicken, had his employee cancel the 911 call:

"He's a young kid. That will go on his record that he was a thief. He cannot do anything in his life. He will not get a good job. This will not solve his hunger problem."

SHARING JAY SINGH'S GESTURE WITH THE WORLD

Singh's incredible act of compassion and solidarity towards a thief would have gone unnoticed if not for a customer who witnessed the incident.

The young boy that Jay Singh helped is a drop in the bucket of the 40 million Americans that go hungry every day.

Cedric Bishop was so moved by Singh's act that he posted an account of it on Facebook.

Singh modestly dismissed his generosity, saying:

"It's basically our Indian culture that if you give food to a hungry person, that's considered like God will bless you for that."

Jay Singh, who moved to the US 5 years ago attributes his actions to an Indian tradition of charity to the less fortunate.

God bless you, Jay Singh.

AMERICA'S INVISIBLE HUNGRY CHILDREN

The young boy that Jay Singh helped is a drop in the bucket of the 40 million Americans that go hungry every day.

According to Feeding America Organization, these millions belong to families that live below the federal poverty level with a median annual household income of $9,175.

These families often have to choose between buying food and medical bills, food and rent and/or food and transportation - and this bitter struggle affects millions of children, like the young boy Jay Singh helped.

Thanks to his generosity, one family had a good dinner that night.