After a woman was caught trying to leave a Kohl's in Fairfield with stolen merchandise, a local police officer decided to buy some of the stolen items for her.

Dannella Scarlett, 27, was charged with larceny after she was caught trying to leave with about $200 worth of merchandise -- nearly of its children's clothing. She was at the store with her two young daughters, an infant and a 6-year-old, and told police she was going through a hard time and that the clothes were for her kids.

The woman was charged with larceny, but got a surprise when Sgt. Hector Irizarry bought the children's items for her, spending $156 of his own money.

"We go out there to enforce the laws, but we also go out there to have impact," says Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara. "He certainly had impact to a mom and her two daughters that day."

Irizarry wasn't able to talk on camera Friday but told News 12 that the woman was emotional when he bought the items and asked how she could repay him. His answer was for her to pay it forward by helping a stranger in need.