A BRAZEN thief has left a bride sobbing after he snatched $100,000 in wedding gifts during the reception.
An unidentified wedding crasher was caught on camera stealing a large box filled with cash, checks and gift cards at the lavish Californian wedding.
An unknown man was caught on camera stealing a box containing $100,000 in wedding gifts[/caption]
Police believe he had been at the event for at least 90 minutes before the theft[/caption]
Bride Nadeen Farahat was left sobbing on the dance floor when the theft was discovered[/caption]
Nadeen and George Farahat were celebrating their wedding with family and friends when the thief struck, unnoticed by security guards.
Seen in a video filmed by one of the 300 guests, the man – dressed in all black – was caught in the act.
ABC7 reported the man spent at least 90 minutes at the Los Angeles reception before the theft took place.
Bride Nadeen said she was left devastated after the theft was discovered.
“As soon as we found out what happened, you know, the music shut down, everything immediately stopped,” she said.
“I ended up sitting on the dance floor sobbing with my friends and cousins around me.”
Security footage from the Renaissance Banquet in Glendale shows the stranger loitering outside the venue holding a cellphone before grabbing the box and exiting.
He was seen pacing around, going into the bathroom, and even ordered a drink before moving through empty tables as guests partied on the dance floor.
Groom George said the thief was “very brave”.
“I think he even tipped the bar tender,” he said.
The final frames of footage show the man racing towards the dance floor, picking something up and fleeing the venue.
Outside surveillance footage shows the man leaving in a black Mercedes-Benz.
“It was a wonderful party until the incident took place,” George told KTLA5.
George explained that in Middle Eastern culture, “most people give cash or checks as gifts for newlyweds”.
“So there was a box containing all the envelopes, the cards, the money from family and friends that were invited,” he said.
One of Nadeen’s close friends caught the unsettling moment on camera.
The wedding crasher was seen loitering int he venue before the theft[/caption]
The brazen thief even ordered a drink at the bar and tipped the barman[/caption]
He was seen fleeing the venue in a black Mercedes-Benz[/caption]
“It’s such a memorable and happy day that you’re having so much fun,” Nadeen said.
“You don’t think about this stuff – it’s the last thing that could’ve been on anyone’s mind.”
The couple had paid for extra security at the wedding and have since filed a police report.
They are offering a $5000 reward for tips.
“Watching the dance floor, he’s even watching our family,” Nadeen told ABC7.
“It’s so scary to look back and see that there was a stranger at such a private … intimate event.”
The shaken couple said they were “trying to focus on the positives of the day”.
“We had a wonderful ceremony at our church, we had a really fun party with our family and friends,” George said.
“Someone said that … when it rains on your wedding day it usually means good things are to come,” added Nadeen.
“When someone steals money and your box and everything on your wedding day, we’ll follow that same trend. We’re just really thankful.”
The pair does not want donations to make up for the stolen cash – they just want the suspect apprehended.
The couple now just want the man caught[/caption]
