Resident and shopping legend Ethel Miggins triumphantly marked her 8000th theft suspicion clearance by the Big W door greeter, solidifying her status as a law-abiding retail citizen.
Mrs Miggins, who has been shopping at the Bendigo Big W for over two decades, celebrated this momentous occasion with a small gathering of friends and family near the exit doors, receiving a complimentary store-branded party hat and an “I Told You I Wasn’t a Thief” certificate of authenticity.
“It’s truly an honour to have my innocence acknowledged by those who have eyed me with suspicion for decades. I’m just your average shopper, trying to buy my bulk toilet paper and bargain DVDs without raising eyebrows,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye.
Big W door greeter Doris McDermott, who cleared Mrs Miggins of theft suspicions on more than 4,500 occasions, couldn’t contain her joy. “I remember when Jackie first started shopping here, and I suspected her of using a pram to steal goods. But when she produced that receipt, I knew she was the real deal.”
Over the years, Mrs Miggins’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. She has become a beloved figure in the Bendigo community, inspiring others to maintain their innocence through the power of receipt-wielding.
