Determination and a bit of caffeine proved to be great allies for a young Cuban woman in Houston, who managed to recover her stolen backpack after a street chase and fight with two female thieves.
The incident occurred at 10 a.m. at a café in the Woodland Heights area that the young woman frequents for breakfast and remote work. Surveillance footage captured the moment when the victim, identified as Claudia, was working on her computer and having coffee outside Uncle Bean's Coffee, located in the 3000 block of Houston Avenue. At one point, two other women walked by, and one quickly grabbed the backpack, which was resting on a chair and contained Claudia's U.S. and Cuban passports.
However, the thieves did not anticipate that the Cuban woman was very quick and reacted immediately. "If it had been more subtle, I might not have noticed, but it was very abrupt. That startled me, and that's when I reacted and started running," the woman told ABC Houston.
The incident, captured by security cameras, shows how the victim chased the suspects, managed to knock down the one carrying her backpack, and finally recovered her belongings in the middle of the street.
Claudia said she had visited the café almost every day for the past month and a half and considered the area a safe place. "Nothing had ever happened before. That's why it surprised me so much," she added.
After the incident, she decided to take additional precautions and bought a hook to secure her backpack while she works. "Next time, if they try to grab the backpack, they'll take the table with them," she said, laughing. Or better yet, "never try to steal from a Cuban woman," concluded followers of the news channel on social media.
The suspects managed to escape, and Houston authorities are asking anyone who recognizes them in the video to notify the Houston Police Department.
Questions and Answers About the Houston Incident Involving a Cuban Woman
To provide more insight into the incident involving a Cuban woman fighting off thieves in Houston, we have compiled some key questions and answers.
What time did the incident occur?
The incident occurred at 10 a.m. at a café in the Woodland Heights area.
Where was the victim when the theft happened?
The victim, Claudia, was working on her computer and having coffee outside Uncle Bean's Coffee.
What did the victim do after the incident?
After the incident, Claudia took additional precautions by buying a hook to secure her backpack while she works.
Have the suspects been caught?
The suspects managed to escape, and Houston authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying them.