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It’s a Feel Good Story: Arizona Woman Who Had Her Cash Snatched Gets It Back Sixfold

Posted byBy Tanasia Kenney | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

https://www.facebook.com/GlendaleAZPD/videos/1477156939069570/

We’ve all been there before. You mistakenly set something down at the store only to realize you’ve left it behind. And at that point, it may be too late.

This was the case for a Glendale, Ariz. woman only identified as Valerie who accidentally left an envelope with $160 cash on the counter of a Walgreens store last week, local station Fox 10 news reported. The 60-year-old lady, who works two jobs just to support herself, had withdrawn the money to pay her cell phone and electric bill.

Valerie returned to the store to retrieve the envelope, but it was gone. Someone had come and stolen it. She filed a police report, telling authorities she’d “have to work extra shifts to recoup the money” intended to pay her bills. That’s when something unexpected happened, however.

In a feel-good twist, Officer Bill Downey with the Glendale Police Department enlisted the help of fellow officers to donate to replace the woman’s stolen money. In all, the Glendale officers managed to raise $1,000.

“In a show of unity, they met at the Walgreens where Officers Downey and [Wes] Zygmont, along with some of the officers who participated, presented [Valerie] with the donated cash in the same Desert Schools envelope which was stolen,” according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. “She was overwhelmed and we were able to video the event against Officer Downey’s wishes!”

The emotional video has received over 1 million views and has been shared more than 20 million times so far. The officers told AZCentral they went above and beyond to make sure the local woman “could take it easy this Christmas.”

As for the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Lisa Lovett, she turned herself in after store surveillance video caught her swiping the money off the counter, according to the news site. She eventually left the store after purchasing a case of beer.

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