A store clerk left his post at the register of a convenience store around 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to WLOX.
Within 40 minutes the unattended store was being ransacked, Lt. Darren Versiga with the Pascagoula police, wrote on Facebook.
"We got into the office, looked at the video and saw everybody having a free for all," Versiga told WLOX. "Coming in stealing beer, cigarettes, candy. Ridiculous things. It was really disheartening."
Versiga said people drove up in $25-$40,000 vehicles, wearing nice clothes. They went in and left with bags full. But not Jesse Harris, Jr.
"Through this whole thing, the homeless guy walking up with a backpack. I thought, 'Well, he's going to load up.' Basically misjudged him, and he didn't even go into the store," Versiga told WLOX. "Just stood right at the door watching everybody come out."
Harris Jr., a homeless man, said he does not steal and stood outside as the customers streamed out of the store.
"At first I thought it was the cashier that was working so fast," Harris told WLOX. "People was coming out there putting stuff in bags and I thought the cashier, I said, she's good. I walked in there and there wasn't no cashier there."
After reviewing the security footage, Versiga found Harris and took him to McDonald's, Harris' choosing. Versiga then got him a pair of shoes from his house. Others have also been offering help to Harris.
Harris shared these words of wisdom:
"Not to take what don't belong to them or whatever. Be honest, be faithful and you will get your blessing."
Police have arrested one suspect and are looking for the others.
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