Kind-hearted police officer buys nappies and kids' clothes for struggling woman nabbed shoplifting

A US woman arrested for shoplifting nappies for her kids has been left stunned after the police officer who nabbed her bought the supplies for the family.

Widow Sarah Robinson, a mother of six girls aged from two to 15, was stopped on July 6 after she was caught stealing nappies, clothes and shoes for her kids from a Kansas Walmart.

When police officer Mark Engravelle arrived, he noticed some of the children were barefoot and in tattered clothes.

Ms Robinson explained to the officer most of the family’s possessions had recently been stolen from their car, in which they also sometimes slept.

Instead of detaining her, the officer gave her a citation for misdemeanour theft.

Mr Engravelle then took the kids inside and paid for nappies, baby wipes, clothes and shoes for the kids from his own wallet.

The kind-hearted officer said he was moved to help when he thought of his own two children.

“I didn’t give it a second thought,” Mr Engravalle told the Kansas City Star.

“I just wanted to do right by the children.”

Ms Robinson told ABC News of her horror when she was caught.

"My heart just dropped,” she said.

“I didn't know what to say or do. It was horrible. I thought I was going to jail.”

She said she has since been swamped with requests from the public who have offered to donate food and clothing to the family.