Here’s a little free advice: never underestimate somebody just because they have pink hair. Otherwise, you could find yourself becoming famous for all the wrong reasons.

Megan Burk, with her shock of bright pink locks, is the owner of Moon Child Crystal Shop in downtown Turlock. She shares the space at 227 E. Main St. with two other businesses: Modern Living and Central Valley Records and Tapes.

The Merced native is also a former correctional officer. So, when somebody recently tried to walk out of her store with nearly $250 in merchandise, she sprang into action and apprehended the would-be shoplifter.

And it was all caught on video, which has gone viral with nearly 1 million views on social media.

“Honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this in the store,” said Burk, who also owns a Moon Child Crystal Shop in downtown Merced. “That’s what 15 years as a correctional officer will do for you, I suppose. It was crazy. I haven’t had an adrenaline rush like that in years.”

On Tuesday, as the rain was pouring down, a female customer entered the store and began looking at the assortment of crystals and jewelry. Burk surmised the customer might be homeless, and was happy to let her linger in the store to stay out the rain and get warm.

Surveillance camera footage showed that the customer — later identified as 36-year-old Toni Parsons — stuffing items into her pockets. 

“I didn’t actually see her put anything in her pockets, but I had my suspicions,” said Burk, who continued helping another customer.

Eventually, Parsons left the store, but stopped at one of the sidewalk clothing racks, where she stuffed a $45 Grateful Dead shirt under her jacket.

“We have a monitor behind the register and I saw her take the shirt,” said Burk. “I went outside and she started to move around the corner. I told her, ‘I saw you take it; give it back.’ She said, ‘I didn’t take anything.’ But I could see it hanging out of her jacket. So, I just kind of snatched her by the collar and hauled her back into the shop.”

On the way back into the store, Burk began hollering for her downtown neighbor — Jenny Roots Sousa, owner of Rustic Roots.

“She screamed for me a couple times and I could tell it was more of panicked scream,” said Roots. “I picked up my phone and started calling 911 as I ran over to her store. When I got there, she said, ‘Call the cops,’ but she pretty much had things under control.”

Two Turlock PD officers arrived within minutes and Parsons was arrested and booked on charges of robbery and petty theft with two or more prior convictions. She remains in the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center in lieu of $87,000 bail.

Burk, who just celebrated one year in downtown Turlock, said this is the only shoplifting incident she’s aware of since opening. 

“It might not seem like a lot, but $246 dollars is huge,” said Burk. “Sometimes, that’s all we do in a single day. This is our livelihood. The economy sucks, so $246 is a big hit.”

As for becoming an internet sensation ...

“I didn’t expect it to blow up like that; it's kind of mind-blowing to me,” said Burk. “It’s kind of funny. (Parsons) had called TPD that morning to report that somebody had stolen from her.”