Would-Be Robber Stays For Wine And Hugs

(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

[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.