Wedding crasher steals over $100,000 worth of gifts
An unidentified man in California crashed a wedding and left with a box containing around $100,000 (P5.7 million) worth of gifts.
On Aug. 30, newlyweds George and Nadeen Farahat were celebrating their reception with 300 guests at the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale, California, when the heist occurred.
As part of their cultural tradition, gifts were given in the form of cash and checks, which the couple put into a box. “There was a box containing all the envelopes, the cards, the money from family and friends that were invited,” the groom, George, said in an interview with ABC7.
In the security footage from the venue, the man can be seen roaming around and pretending to be a guest while watching the dance floor, where others were dancing, for about 90 minutes.
When no one was looking, he fled the scene with the box in hand. He was later seen on the camera escaping into the back alley before riding off in a getaway car.
“He grabbed the box. The getaway car opened the front door for him. He ran in and closed the door, and they drove off,” George stated.
The wedding gifts intended to help the couple start their life together were stolen in an instant, leaving them devastated.
"As soon as we found out what happened, the music shut down, everything immediately stopped. I ended up sitting on the dance floor sobbing, with my friends and cousins around me," the bride, Nadeen, shared.
Glendale police are currently investigating the case, but it is not clear if authorities have identified the suspect.
The couple has also offered a $5,000 (P286,000) reward to anyone who can help identify him.
Meanwhile, George and Nadeen said they are trying to stay positive despite the disastrous turn of events.
“The most important thing is that everyone is safe,” the groom said. “We’re just really thankful,” Nadeen added.
