Woman Stops Package Thief with Kindness in Philadelphia

Bernadette Williams offers money and encouragement to would-be package thief, hoping to make a 'bad situation better'.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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A South Philadelphia woman named Bernadette Williams stepped in with empathy rather than anger when she spotted someone trying to steal a neighbor's package. In a doorbell camera video, Williams can be heard offering the would-be thief $7 and telling her 'You're better than that. Get some help. You're better than that. I love you. God loves you.' Williams said she wanted to help rather than escalate the situation, and she could see remorse in the woman's expression.

Why it matters

This story highlights how a compassionate response can sometimes be more effective than anger or confrontation when dealing with minor crimes. Williams' actions demonstrate how an empathetic approach focused on helping the individual can potentially lead to a better outcome for the community.

The details

In the video, Williams can be heard calling out to the woman reaching for the package, saying 'Put that down, put that down.' She then offers the woman the only money she had in her pocket, $7, in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Williams said she wanted to 'make a bad situation better' rather than escalate it further.

  • The incident occurred on Friday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Bernadette Williams

A South Philadelphia woman who stepped in with empathy when she saw someone trying to steal a neighbor's package.

The would-be package thief

A woman who was caught on a doorbell camera attempting to steal a neighbor's package in South Philadelphia.

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What they’re saying

“I'll give you some money. Here's $7, here's $7.”

— Bernadette Williams (WPVI)

“You're better than that. Get some help. You're better than that. I love you. God loves you.”

— Bernadette Williams (WPVI)

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how an empathetic and compassionate response can sometimes be more effective than anger or confrontation when dealing with minor crimes. By offering the would-be thief money and encouragement, Bernadette Williams was able to de-escalate the situation and potentially make a positive impact on the individual's life.