Would-Be Robber Stays For Wine And Hugs

Armed Intruder In D.C. Demands Cash, Settles For Crystal Goblet Of Bordeaux And A Group Hug

(AP)  A would-be robber was disarmed by hospitable hosts who offered him a glass of wine and sent him off with a group hug but no cash.

A group of friends was finishing a dinner of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp on the back patio of a Washington home when a hooded man slid through an open gate and pointed a handgun at the head of a 14-year-old girl.

"Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," the intruder said, according to Washington police and witnesses. Everyone froze, including the girl's parents. Then one guest spoke up.

"We were just finishing dinner," Cristina "Cha Cha" Rowan, 43, told the man. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder had a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupery and said, "Damn, that's good wine."

The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, a federal government worker, told the intruder to take the whole glass, and Rowan offered him the bottle.

The robber, with his hood down, took another sip and a bite of Camembert cheese. He put the gun in his sweatpants.

Then the story took an even more bizarre twist.

"I think I may have come to the wrong house," the intruder said before apologizing. "Can I get a hug?"

Rowan, who works at her children's school and lives in Falls Church, Va., stood up and wrapped her arms around would-be robber. The other guests followed.

"Can we have a group hug?" the man asked. The five adults complied.

The man walked away a few moments later with a filled crystal wine glass, but nothing was stolen, and no one was hurt. Police were called to the scene and found the empty wine glass unbroken on the ground in an alley behind the house.

Police classified the June 16 incident, which lasted all of 10 minutes, as strange but true. The witnesses thought the intruder might have been high on drugs.

"We've had robbers that apologize and stuff, but nothing where they sit down and drink wine. It definitely is strange," said Cmdr. Diane Groomes, adding that the hugs were especially unusual.

[bobgee_1999]

Putting a gun to child's head is the act of a scumbag. Fooling around when somebody has a gun to a child's head is the act of an idiot.

[jdubs63]

Double WOW

[incog-nito]

This is wonderful news. But wouldn't you think it would be even more wonderful if one of the family members had wrested the gun away from the robber while he was merrily drunk, put a few holes in him with it, and then call the cops?

[cantshutup]

i wonder if the 14 yr old enjoyed the group hug???

Too Funny!!

[mo005]

j24kma: I think you are right. I had a friend rob my parents house when I was about 18. I found out who it was, and called him up. I invited the guy to a concert and paid for everything . Just treated him like a king for a day. He came crawling up to me about half way threw the concert drunk and crying because of what he did. He confessed, turned him self in to the cops and paid me and dad back for everything he had stolen. I called it reverse psychology. I guess it works elseware too.

[russ1985]

That's actually a cool story. Everybody was cool to the robber and he left on his own accord. A little bit of wine in his stomach and a whole lot of love shown him. Doesn't happen everyday and kudos for the family that was able to pull that off.

[random_radar]

"A soft answer turneth away wrath."

[toolmangler-2009]

As a coworrker use to say "Well I've been to two Worlds Fairs and a Goat.......roping but this beats 'em all".

[passerby2]

"Stick it up! Oh,pardon me, would you happen to have any grey poupon"

[passerby2]

hahahaha....this is straight sitcom material. Most bizarre and hilariouss thing i have ever read.

[beadazzle]

It is quite possible that this man was a first time robber. Think about it,even if he was desperate,he could have gone ahead and shot everyone. Instead he chose to accept their gifts of wine and a hug.

A truley harden criminal would not have done that,especially the ones who are so high on drugs that they can't think straight. That kind of criminal could care less about some wine and a hug,all they want is money and your life.

I would not suggest that everyone try this method to solve this situation. As for the guy I hope he finds a solution to his problems and realises that crime doesn't pay,well sorta,cause he got darned lucky this time. The next time it could be his life that ends.

[grammawhamma]

WOW...that's all I have to say about this story.

[j24kman736]

It is a wonderful respite from the usual violence. Sometimes, I suspect, good people do things out of great despair . Maybe the guy was high. Maybe he was high because of his despair. I know it is not fashionable to think that treating someone who is down and out like a human being is a good thing to do, but here, maybe, that is just what was needed. I know these are a lot of "maybes". But it is, at least possible, that coming from a place of being the keeper of one's brother does actually work. Does doing this count as "turning the other cheek"? I suppose it does. These folks either got very lucky or actually did the right thing. Maybe both.

I am sure I will slammed for this.

[drivelphobe]

I'm dumping my S&W for a couple of bottles of Gallo. I'll keep my Beretta though, just in case.

[dnamj]

Wine Prevents Crime! As well as lowering your cholesterol, and tasting delicious! I would classify this as "quick thinking". They threw the guy off his plan by responding to threats with generosity, instead of fear and compliance. That must have really shocked the guy. Furthermore, I think it showed him strength when he expected paralysis and weakness. I think there is a lesson here, that cool headed poise and maintaining a positive aspect can be read as strength.

[honest_news]

They contributed to an armed criminal's public drunkness and even offered him a whole bottle of wine to go. I wonder... did they offer to brown bag it so he wouldn't get arrested? They are *** lucky that no one was hurt... it was a fluke that the guy wasn't paranoid and didn't interpret their patronizing offers as a threat.

Sure, it's wonderful to read a feel-good story like this and pretend that polite, cordial banter can sooth the savage beast -- but there are hundreds of instances where attempts to placate an intruder with sweet talk end in trajedy.

Granted, the way the story reads they didn't have much choice -- they were caught off-guard and weren't in a position to disarm him -- but the group hug and comforting "why don't you join us and have a glass of wine" after the guy had a gun pressed against their child's head is just a bit... gauche.

[gunownerdan]

What a story but unfortunately they don't have happy endings like this all the time.
All handguns have been illegal in Washington DC for decades but criminals obviously couldn't care less!

[yvette77-2009]

Thank goodness no one was hurt. I must admit that it was refreshing to read a news/robbery story were nothing was taken and no one was hurt.