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Man and woman kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to withdraw money from ATMs in Chicago

Man and woman kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to withdraw money from ATMs in Chicago

WBBM

By Elyssa Kaufman, Charlie De Mar

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CHICAGO (WBBM) – The owners of a Tamale restaurant were kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to withdraw money from several ATMs in Little Village early Thursday morning.

Around 1 a.m., police said a man and a woman were about to enter their Los Tamales de la Tia restaurant in the 3400 block of West 26th Street when an SUV pulled up. Five men, some with weapons, got out and entered the restaurant with the victims before stealing items.

“He grabbed my husband by the neck and put the gun to his head,” said Yesenia, one of the restaurant’s owners, who asked to be identified only by her first name. “I was really scared.”

The victims said they were hit multiple times as guns were pointed at their heads. They said after handing over their wallets and other personal items, they were forced to enter the restaurant and open the cash register. The robbers were apparently annoyed by how little was in the register and kidnapped the couple.

Police said the men then forced the victims into a vehicle at gunpoint, robbed them and then forced them to withdraw money from several ATMs.

The restaurant has been open for less than a year. The couple said they were forced to withdraw about $1,500 and the robbers stole a few hundred dollars from the cash register.

The owners said the gunmen continually threatened to kill them throughout the ordeal.

“They forced me to open the cash register and one of them started stealing the money,” Yesenia said. “Then they got upset because there wasn’t enough money and he started hitting me on the shoulder and head.”

The owners said the robbers spoke a combination of Spanish and English. There were no arrests.

The victims were freed from the car unharmed. Police said she refused medical treatment.

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