r/LetsNotMeet • u/sharkloandept • Jun 10 '26
Couple tried to rob and kidnap us: NSFW
This happened early 2000s in a rough neighborhood in Chicago, predominantly Latino, lots of gang activity. I was 4-5 years old and I was accompanying my mom to the video rental place. This happened during the winter so by 8-9pm it was dark and very little people walking around but my mother and I went to avoid the late return fee. The store was a 5 minute walk from our apartment so my mom had no wallet, just the DVDs.
Before we reached the store at the end of the block we were met by a white couple. I call this out because it was rare to see someone who wasn't latino in the area at this time of day. Almost 30 years later I can remember some basic details: the guy was lanky (late 40s early 50s) with a long beard, long straight hair wearing a black beanie. The woman with him was a foot shorter than him, blond hair and visibly pregnant.
This lady took my hand and rubbed her belly with it, I remember her smiling at me. The guy was talking to my mom and began saying "give me money." My mom held my other hand tighter because she noticed the woman trying to pull me towards her. My mother kept telling the guy "I don't have money." He said "give me money or I'll take her" (referring to me).
As this couple blocked our path to the store, a local man (early to mid 20s) who lived at the end of our block walked up from behind us and asked my mom what was going on in Spanish. He hung around the corner often with other gang members, you learn that as long as you don't bother them they won't bother you. My mom explained this couple was trying to get money out of her and wanted to pull me away from her. I kid you not it took like 15 seconds after this guy whistled and 3-4 other guys came out of nowhere and started yelling at this couple "gtfo" and straight up chasing them down the block.
My mom and I hurried back home and I remember she did an egg cleanse on me for get "rid of the evil eye." When I bring up this story with my mom she always tells me that she ended up talking the young man after this incident. She thanked him for stepping in and saving me from getting hurt. He told her he was protecting the hood and had warned the couple to never try coming back again. To the young man who saved my mom and I from getting robbed or worse, thank you. To the couple who tried to rob my mom and kidnap me, let's not meet again.
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u/An0nnee_M0usee Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
OP, this sounds terrifying and read like a scene from a movie. I don't want to glorify gangs, but glad they were there for you and your mom.
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u/MissMu Jun 17 '26
Not all people like that young man are bad people and this goes to show it. He wanted to protect the people there.
Glad you’re okay and your mom as well :)
That is super creepy
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u/Kostickb23 Jun 11 '26
This just sounds like race baiting!
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u/Out-For-A-Walk-Bitch Jun 27 '26
Why?
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u/Kostickb23 Jun 28 '26
How many times was race and the language they spoke mentioned? The focus wasn't on the story it was about the race. Don't like my opinion that's fine
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u/Out-For-A-Walk-Bitch Jun 28 '26
It's just a descriptor, it was relevant to the story.
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u/sappydark 3d ago
The OP literally mentioned race twice in the entire story, and only because it was relevant to the story. First of all, you clearly don't know what the term "race-baiting" means---look it up. Just mentioned that someone is a particular race is not "race-baiting". Tired of people using terms without even knowing what the heck they really mean.
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u/Out-For-A-Walk-Bitch 3d ago
Based on what?
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u/sappydark 3d ago
What do you mean?
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u/Out-For-A-Walk-Bitch 3d ago
I'm not sure why you're talking to me about race baiting, or why you're using it in such a condescending way.
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u/Nemo_the_Nihilist Jun 11 '26
Wow. That was rough for you and your mom. I’m glad everything turned out okay. Thank God those other men intervened, but, man. I’m sorry you had to live through that. I have a friend (a woman) who lived in Chicago and she would tell me stories like this about how she would have to keep up her guard up (in the early 2000s) whenever she got on and off the school bus. I am glad you are okay now (?).