Criminals are generally stupid people. The cat burglar, “Oceans 11” type thieves are a Hollywood myth. More often than not crooks are idiots. Otherwise, perhaps they might be making an honest living. The latest example of this comes from Auburn, Washington, as a would-be kidnapper got caught on cam making (thankfully) the lamest kidnapping attempt ever. Check this out.
A shocking video captured the moment a man tried to grab at a barista with a zip tie device in an apparent kidnapping attempt.
The startling incident unfolded at a coffee stand in Auburn, Washington, at about 5:06 a.m. on Monday.
The surveillance video shows a man pull up in a dark colored SUV. When the female barista tried to hand him money, he abruptly grabbed her arm and lashed some device at her with his other hand.
Police said it was a “looped zip tie device” likely meant to bind the woman’s hands.
The barista was able to fight him off, and he drove away while dropping cash on the ground.
The Auburn Police Department is asking for any information to help identify a suspect that attempted to abduct a barista during the early morning hours of 1/16/2023. pic.twitter.com/w8qzJQs5ZA
— Auburn WA Police Dept (@AuburnWAPolice) January 17, 2023
The lack of planning is only rivaled by the ineptitude in execution. In the video, the would-be kidnapper attempts to zip tie the young lady in the window, but what was his next move? Was he going to drag her through the window? We have no idea of the physical stature of the young lady involved, but we do know most drive through windows are designed to accommodate food and drink, not people. The idiot crook also actually paid for his drink first, then after the failed swipe with the zip tie, stopped and reached back for his change before fumbling it to the ground and driving off. That’s a double fail! If you can’t snag the barista, at least get your change!
On Tuesday, the department tweeted that it had arrested a suspect with the help of “overwhelming support” from the community.
The suspect was to be arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping and possibly other charges as well.
The alleged victim spoke to Nexstar and said that she believed the man was intent on kidnapping someone from the shop but not necessarily anyone in particular.
“He was going to do it to someone that day and it happened to be me,” she said.
“They are in vulnerable positions because they’re usually controlling those spots by themselves at early hours in the morning when it’s dark outside. But this barista did an awesome job of protecting herself and fighting this person off,” said Auburn Police Department spokesperson Kolby Crossley.
I am going to offer a suggestion to businesses like this. In the future just put more fuller-figured people in the window! No one is going to randomly try to zip tie and drag someone through the window that obviously would get stuck like Winnie the Pooh in his honey tree. Or maybe provide better lighting? There are a number of possible prevention measures, but thankfully the community at large recognized this idiot and turned him in sooner rather than later.
Featured image screengrab from embedded Tweet
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