An Indian woman, Chabi Gupta, recounted a distressing incident on Instagram in which she narrowly escaped becoming a victim of chain snatching in downtown Chicago. In her viral video, Gupta displayed the bruises sustained during the confrontation and detailed how a thief attempted to snatch her chain in broad daylight on a busy street. She was able to save her locket, though the hook of her chain was taken.
“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,” Gupta stated in the video.
In a follow-up segment, Gupta called her mother, who expressed shock over the incident and mentioned the difficulty in sleeping afterward. Her mother remarked that such occurrences were unheard of in cities like Ranchi, Patna, or Bangalore, highlighting her disbelief at experiencing 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.” She emphasized that her intention was not to incite fear, but to share the increasing reality of crime in Chicago, particularly in popular areas such as the Loop and Magnificent Mile.
Gupta advised others to keep valuables secure, remain vigilant, and if possible, travel in groups. While she expressed her love for the city, she underscored the importance of prioritizing personal safety.
Her video, posted on a Sunday, quickly gained traction, amassing over 924,000 views. Reactions from netizens varied, with one commenting, “We should not wear gold chains these days anywhere. Sad but true!” Another user added, “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.”
