UMVA has learned that a restaurant owner in a Chicago suburb narrowly escaped a terrifying armed robbery, and his harrowing tale of survival has left many in shock.
The owner of Arepa Express, a popular eatery in the Melrose Park neighborhood, was confronted by an unmasked robber who pointed a handgun at him on May 12. The owner, still shaken, recalled the moment, saying, “I thought he was going to shoot me.”
In a desperate bid for help, the owner cried out to God, “God help me.” The robber, who had initially come to the restaurant to eat, returned multiple times asking to use the restroom, before pulling out his gun and threatening to kill the owner.
The brazen thief made off with $10,000 in jewelry, including the owner’s prized 18-karat Gucci chain, a bracelet, and a ring – a graduation gift from his parents. The ring held immense sentimental value, as it was a memento from his law school graduation in 2014.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the owner, originally from Venezuela, was particularly shaken by the robbery because the perpetrator seemed to be from the same community and nation. “I’ve been a resident for eight years now, and it’s always a shame when it’s your own people doing these crimes,” he said.
The robbery was captured on security cameras and showed the alleged thief fleeing the scene. A customer quickly called 911, and the owner was helped to safety by another customer after the robber escaped.
The incident has left the community on edge, and the restaurant owner is still grappling with the aftermath of the traumatic event. “I don’t wish that experience on anybody,” he said, recounting the terrifying ordeal.
