Screengrab from viral video (Image/Instagram)
An Indian woman, Chabi Gupta, shared a harrowing experience on Instagram after she almost became a victim of chain snatching in downtown Chicago. According to the viral video, Gupta showed the bruises she sustained during the incident and described how a thief attempted to snatch her chain in broad daylight on a crowded street. She managed to save her locket, though the hook of her chain was taken.Describing the incident, she said, “I was walking in downtown Chicago when someone tried to snatch my chain. Thank God, I was able to save my locket, though the hook was taken. Look at the bruises I got. Everyone, please stay safe out here.” In the second part of the video, she called her mother, who expressed shock and said they were unable to sleep after hearing about the incident. Her mother said that such incidents never occurred in cities like Ranchi, Patna or Bangalore and expressed disbelief at facing such crime in a foreign city.
In her Instagram post, Gupta wrote, “Can’t believe it happened, fam. Got my chain snatched in downtown Chicago — broad daylight, crowded street. For a second, I froze. Then it hit me how real this city can get.” Gupta clarified that she was not trying to spread fear but to share the reality. She highlighted that Chicago has recently seen a rise in street robberies and chain snatching, particularly around the Loop and Magnificent Mile. In her post, she advised people to keep their valuables safe, stay aware of their surroundings, and if possible, walk in groups. She added that while she loves the city, personal safety should never be overlooked, urging everyone to be cautious and vigilant.The video which was posted on Sunday quickly went viral garnering more than 924K views. Netizens reacted with shock and concern. One user wrote, “We should not wear gold chains these days anywhere. Sad but true!” Another said, “Been living in Chicago for years. Granted I grew up here. But I’ve never had any issues. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times.”