Recently, a video has been circulated on media and social media with the claim that: ‘The video, captured on a store’s CCTV footage, shows the shopkeeper sitting behind the counter with his small four- or five-year-old daughter beside him. At that moment, an armed individual enters the shop, points a gun, and snatches cash and the shopkeeper’s mobile phone. Just then, the small child, not understanding the situation, offers the robber the lollipop she is holding. This unexpected, innocent gesture instantly changes the robber’s demeanor. He is seen returning the money and phone he took from the shopkeeper. The man even shows affection for the child by kissing her on the head. He then leaves the shop without harming anyone. The incident happened in Pakistan.’
Reports circulated in the media with this claim: Kalbela (YouTube), Janakantha, JagoNews24, Shomoyer Konthoshor, NewsNow24, bbarta24, NPB News, News Flash71 (Facebook), Ajker Protasha, Kuakata News.
Posts circulated on media Facebook pages with this claim: here (Archive), here (Archive), and here (Archive).
Besides the media, various netizens have also circulated the video with the discussed claim. See posts circulated on Facebook with this claim: here (Archive) and here (Archive).
See posts circulated on Instagram with this claim: here (Archive).
Fact Check
The Rumor Scanner Team’s investigation found that the circulated video is not of a real event. Instead, a scripted video created by a Pakistani content creator named ‘Kamran Team’ has been circulated with the discussed claim.
In the initial investigation, the original video matching the circulated clip was found on a YouTube channel named ‘Kamran Team Official’ on November 16, under the title, “The heart of the robber softened.” As of the publication of this report, the original video had been viewed more than 1.2 million times.
The description section of the video states: “This video is entirely staged and the individuals seen in it are merely dramatic characters (actors). The weapons shown in the video are also fake. The purpose of this video is not to offend anyone’s sentiments. This video does not represent any person or any organization. The video has been made for entertainment purposes only. Thank you.” (Translated)
Observation of the YouTube channel reveals that it is operated from Pakistan. Furthermore, the discussed video was also circulated on the Facebook page named ‘Kamran Team’ on November 16. The Facebook post’s caption also mentioned that the video was not real but an act.
Moreover, observing the same YouTube channel shows many other videos with similar storylines. The description section of those videos also states that the videos are not real but acted. Additionally, the individuals featured in the discussed video are seen appearing in many of those other videos.
Furthermore, the investigation found a fact-check report published on November 21 on the website of the Pakistan-based fact-checking platform ‘Soch Factcheck’ regarding this matter. The report states that the video was not real but acted, and it was created by a YouTube channel named ‘Kamran Team Official,’ most of whose content consists of scripted CCTV-style clips that range from humorous to social messages.
This confirms that the circulated video is not of a real event.
Therefore, a scripted video by a Pakistani content creator named ‘Kamran Team’ has been circulated as a real video of a robber being so moved by a child’s gesture that he abandons the robbery and returns the items; which is false.
Sources
- Kamran Team Official – Youtube Video
- Kamran Team – Facebook Post
- Soch Factcheck – Viral CCTV footage of a child averting robbery attempt is not real
