📰 Man Let Off With Warning After Explaining Crime Was ‘Part Of His Journey’
Police commend honesty.
GREYMOUTH — A man caught shoplifting a small household plant from The Warehouse was issued a warning after police accepted the theft was “a learning experience rooted in personal growth rather than criminal intent.”
Staff contacted police after noticing the man leave the store with a medium-sized potted fern cradled gently against his chest, pausing briefly at the exit to take a calming breath and whisper what witnesses described as “affirmations.”
Bodycam footage shows the suspect seated cross-legged on the pavement, explaining to officers that the act was “about reclaiming agency in a capitalist environment” and that the plant had “chosen him during a moment of emotional vulnerability.”
He further explained that paying for the plant would have “commercialised the relationship” and undermined its “spiritual authenticity.”
Police spokesperson Pauline Ahammy said officers recognised the importance of meeting people “where they’re at.”
“The individual demonstrated strong emotional literacy,” Ahammy said.
“He used ‘I’ statements, maintained eye contact, and acknowledged the plant’s needs.”
Officers reportedly asked the man how the incident made him feel, whether the fern felt “safe,” and if anyone present required a pause or hydration break. After a brief guided reflection, officers escorted the man outside and provided space for “grounding,” encouraging him to consider his next steps while continuing to care for the plant.
“At no point did the situation escalate,” Ahammy added.
“There was listening, nodding, and a shared understanding that harm is contextual.”
The fern was not confiscated after officers agreed it had become “emotionally bonded” and that separating them could cause distress.
The man was issued a formal warning advising that future personal journeys involving succulents, herbs, or seasonal indoor foliage may require “stronger boundaries.”
The Warehouse later confirmed staff have been offered resilience training and that signage will be updated to read: PLEASE DO NOT COMMENCE PERSONAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE PLANT AISLE.
This gentleman was lucky he did not try to have an emotional conversation with the Dionaea muscipula. or perhaps a Utricularia found in the next row. The outcome may have been slightly different.
Body cam footage released last week in Shag Point / Matakaea, New Zealand, reveal a much more tragic end of a theft that went wrong.
