The Scene That Shocked the Retail World

If you reside in America and visit large retail stores, you may have noticed that certain high-value items, such as baby formula, beauty products, electronics, and car parts, are increasingly being placed under lock and key.

This phenomenon is not limited to retail giants like Walmart; other stores have adopted similar policies.

According to data, this scene is most frequently observed in areas with high poverty rates. Retail management has stated clearly that as long as theft continues to increase, they will not alter their strict security policies.

With numerous videos now circulating on the internet, many observers claim that a large number of the shoplifters are Black Americans. This has led some to speculate that poverty may be the root cause of the widespread theft.

However, others attempt to justify the wrong actions by arguing that they are entitled to steal because their ancestors were once enslaved by white people. Regardless of the claimed rationale, the law remains the law.

Some store owners initially tolerated the theft, even when conducted brazenly in broad daylight, because they were protected by retail theft insurance.

Over time, however, this perspective has shifted. Due to the repeated nature of the incidents, insurance premiums, like any other policy, began to rise dramatically.

Consequently, some businesses have chosen to close their stores and relocate, while others resort to locking up their most expensive merchandise.

For decades, the Filipino community across various U.S. states had a clean record regarding shoplifting, with no reported incidents of attempted theft.

However, this month, one Filipina broke that long-standing positive record.

The RN Caught on Bodycam

The incident was captured on a police officer’s bodycam footage on January 1, 2025, at 1:21 PM, when authorities responded to a call from a staff member at a retail store giant, Target.

The staff wanted police to apprehend a woman wearing a white coat, whom they suspected might be a hospital worker.

Authorities swiftly positioned themselves at the exit, as the woman was reportedly about to leave the establishment. A loss prevention officer was also waiting.

The wait was brief; within 12 seconds, the woman—wearing a white coat, yellow pants, and a red pullover, along with dark sunglasses—was spotted and intercepted at the exit. People nearby turned their heads to witness the unfolding scene.

To de-escalate the situation, the officers escorted the woman into a private room within the store. As she removed her sunglasses, the smile that had been on her face vanished, suggesting she had finally grasped the seriousness of the situation.

Before sitting down, she immediately offered apologies, claiming she “didn’t mean to do this” and insisted she could pay for the merchandise in the plastic bags.

“I didn’t mean to do this. I can pay this.” Her apology, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears.

The loss prevention personnel informed her that she had been observed stealing merchandise valued at approximately $300 (over Php17,000). The audience watching the bodycam footage noted her seeming arrogance, as she couldn’t stop smiling while the staff member spoke.

The exchange grew tense: “Now I was going to give it to my somebody. Okay, I’ll pay for it. I promise.”

Staff: “Right now it’s too late, right? You tried stealing it.”

She insisted: “No, but I can always pay, right, sir.”

Staff: “No, you cannot. You already tried stealing it. Have a seat, please, have a seat.”

The Clues and the Unmatchable Excuse

As the woman was asked to sit down, police asked for identification, a standard protocol. She made the process difficult, only to finally state, “Just don’t ruin my name.”

When her jacket was removed, it was confirmed that she had concealed additional items inside, beyond those in the plastic bags.

The woman was photographed—a standard procedure for Target to track proven shoplifters, although the photos are not publicly released. She repeatedly insisted she could pay for the items, but the staff member informed her that this was a policy only practiced at their rival retail store, Walmart, not Target.

The public immediately raised eyebrows, questioning why she was so familiar with the shoplifting policies of different retail stores, suggesting this was likely not her first attempt, but merely the first time she was caught.

She desperately tried to resolve the issue without damaging her reputation or incurring a criminal record, even pleading with the staff, “It’s New Year. What can I resolve it? So please, um, sumaya [be happy] now.”

It was then revealed that the woman’s name was Marife Sumaya Storky. Born and raised in the Philippines, she confirmed to the police officer that she was a Registered Nurse (RN).

This information was confirmed by her professional profile, which indicated she had served as an RN for several decades, initially in New Hampshire before moving to Illinois.

The public was stunned: why would a nurse like Marife, with a good salary—entry-level starting at $38 per hour (Php2,100), increasing significantly with experience—choose to shoplift?

The Bankruptcy File: A Darker Truth

After being lectured by the staff about arguing, Marife lowered her voice and again pleaded to pay for the items, claiming she was rushing to a birthday party and the stolen merchandise were gifts. She also mentioned having a patient waiting for her, using her urgent need to return as an excuse for not paying.

The staff disregarded this, pointing out that security footage showed she had already packed the items before reaching the checkout area. She likely used the self-checkout and simply walked out without paying.

Marife’s continued insistence that she could pay fueled the theory that she might be suffering from kleptomania, a mental disorder characterized by an inability to resist the urge to steal, regardless of whether the items are needed.

However, other Filipinos online dismissed the kleptomania theory, suggesting that she was instead a victim of financial pressure common among some OFWs: seemingly high-earning but deeply indebted due to unnecessary expenses or prioritizing social media vanity over financial stability.

To check the possibility that Marife was struggling financially, a court record was accessed, confirming a darker truth: Marife had filed for bankruptcy in August 2020 in Illinois, finalized three months later.

This filing strongly suggested that financial constraints, rather than a psychological disorder, likely pushed her to steal. Having gone through bankruptcy, her credit cards would have been canceled, forcing her to use cash or debit. Any new credit card would have astronomical interest rates, making spending difficult.

Marife Sumaya Storky was formally charged with Felony Retail Theft.

The Consequences: Felony and Lost Reputation

Five minutes after being escorted to the room, the smiling Marife realized the severity of her situation, as police were determined to press charges. Target policy dictates that stealing merchandise valued over $300 allows them to pursue civil and criminal cases.

Despite her claim that this was her first time, authorities were unmoved. Felony Retail Theft of merchandise over $300 in Illinois is a Class 3 Felony, punishable by not less than two years and up to five years in prison.

While the judge might allow restitution (repaying the cost of the stolen goods) to avoid jail time, the shoplifting case will remain permanently on her record, showing up in pre-employment background checks.

A law firm in Illinois stated that Target could also file a “no trespassing” order against Marife, potentially banning her from all their retail stores.

The members of her church, Limitless Faithless Church in Illinois, viewed her actions as a human failing, emphasizing that the important thing is that she returns to God for forgiveness and works to change her behavior.

The case of Marife Sumaya Storky serves as a stark reminder that even those with high professional standing can be driven to crime by overwhelming debt, and that in the digital age, a lapse in judgment can lead to the permanent collapse of a hard-earned reputation.