Video Of Indian Tourist’s Arrest At Target Goes Viral, Sparks Online Debate

India-West News Desk

CHICAGO, IL – A police bodycam video showing the arrest of an Indian tourist at a Target store in suburban Schaumburg has gone viral, triggering a wave of commentary on social media and opening a broader conversation about shoplifting laws, cultural differences, and the risks foreign visitors face in the U.S. legal system.

The footage, now viewed over a million times on YouTube, and more on Tik Tok, shows Jimisha Avlani—visibly distressed—as she pleads with officers after allegedly walking out of the store with unpaid items worth more than $1,300. “Why can’t I just pay for it?” she asks. An officer replies calmly but firmly, “We’re past that. You committed a felony.”

According to the Schaumburg Police Department, Avlani, a 34-year-old marketing professional from Mumbai, was arrested on May 1 after spending nearly seven hours inside the store. Security staff told police they grew suspicious after observing her selecting high-value items, moving between aisles, checking her phone frequently, and eventually attempting to leave without paying. The merchandise reportedly included electronics, cosmetics, and branded apparel—items Avlani allegedly told police were intended as gifts and souvenirs.

The arrest escalated quickly once officers arrived. Surveillance footage and police reports indicate that she exited the store with the cart full of items before being stopped by security. By then, the alleged theft crossed the legal threshold for felony retail theft under Illinois law, which applies to stolen merchandise valued over $1300.

Avlani had been visiting her sister’s family in the Chicago suburbs and had only arrived in the U.S. days earlier. Her arrest has left many in the South Asian community divided. Some viewers of the viral video have expressed concern that cultural or legal misunderstandings may have played a role. Others, however, have pushed back strongly against that narrative, warning that such incidents cast unfair suspicion on the broader Indian diaspora.

“People work hard here to build a reputation,” read one widely shared post. “You don’t get to steal and then act confused.” Others snipped about her wanting to pay to actually attempting to pay off the cops. Others warned that they did not want America to become like India. 

For others, the video is cautionary tale; a flashpoint in ongoing conversations about race, privilege, and justice in an increasingly surveilled society.

Schaumburg police confirmed Avlani was charged with felony retail theft and released on bond. In a statement, a department spokesperson said the case followed standard procedure: “Officers responded to a call from store security. Due to the value of the merchandise and the circumstances surrounding the incident, charges were filed accordingly.”

Legal experts warn that for international visitors, even a single criminal charge—especially a felony—can have severe immigration consequences, from visa cancellation to a permanent bar on reentry.