A California bride broke down in tears on the dance floor after a brazen wedding crasher fled her lavish reception with nearly $100,000 in gifts.
A mystery thief was recorded on video snatching a large container stuffed with money, checks, and gift cards during a celebration at the Renaissance Banquet in Glendale on Saturday, where George and Nadeen Farahat were marking what was intended to be the happiest day of their lives.
The shameless theft unfolded around 12:30 a.m., hours after the newlyweds had tied the knot at a church in downtown Los Angeles.
The man, dressed in black, was spotted swiping the gifts, worth about $80,000 to $100,000, in a video one of their nearly 300 guests recorded.
The individual went unnoticed by security and reportedly lingered at the event for at least 90 minutes before the theft occurred, according to ABC 7.
Nadeen said the bizarre moment quickly changed the mood of what was supposed to be an amazing memory for the couple.
‘As soon as we found out what happened, you know, the music shut down, everything immediately stopped,’ the bride recalled.
‘I ended up sitting on the dance floor sobbing with my friends and cousins around me.’
A brazen thief was caught snatching a box full of nearly $10,000 worth of gifts from a swanky wedding in Glendale, California on Saturday
George and Nadeen Farahat were celebrating the happiest day of their lives after getting married at a church hours earlier
The audacious thief was seen lingering near the entrance of the venue before he seemingly seized the valuable box and slipped through a side exit.
Footage also shows the suspect, believed by the couple to be responsible for the heist, pacing in the hallway with a cellphone in hand.
Additionally, cameras captured him visiting a restroom prior to entering the lavish ballroom where the Farahats and their guests were celebrating.
Inside, the suspect appeared to order a drink at the bar, then navigated through mostly unoccupied tables while guests were enjoying themselves on the dance floor.
‘It’s very brave. I think he even tipped the bartender,’ the groom said.
He was then seen racing towards the dance floor, picking something up and then fleeing the venue.
According to surveillance footage taken from the outside of the building, the suspected robber appeared to flee in a black Mercedes Benz.
‘It was a wonderful party until the incident took place,’ George, whose family are Middle Eastern, told KTLA5.
The unidentified suspect is believed to have been at the celebration for at least 90 minutes before grabbing the gifts and fleeing
The couple are seen enjoying their big day on the dance floor just before the unthinkable happened
The suspected robber was also seen appearing to order a drink at the bar before running off
‘As is tradition in our culture, most people give cash or checks as gifts for the newlyweds, so there was a box containing all the envelopes, the cards, the money from family and friends that were invited.’
Nadeen said it was one of her close friends who recorded the unsettling moment before bringing it to her attention.
‘At that point, the music stopped, everyone was aware of the situation,’ Nadeen recalled.
‘It’s such a memorable and happy day that you’re having so much fun. You don’t think about this stuff. It’s the last thing that could’ve been on anyone’s mind.’
The couple, who paid for extra security at their wedding, have since filed a police report and are offering a $5,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.
They have also asked all of their guests to help them gather any information that could help.
‘Watching the dance floor, he’s even watching our family. It’s just so scary to look back and see that there was a stranger at such a private event, and such an intimate event,’ Nadeen told ABC 7.
Although the situation has left the couple shaken, George said they are trying to ‘focus on the positives of that day.’
‘We had a wonderful ceremony at our church, we had a really fun party with our family and friends to celebrate until the incident,’ he told the outlet.
The Farahat’s filed a police report and are offering a $5,000 for any information leading to the man’s arrest
Surveillance footage from outside the venue captured the suspect running to a black Mercedes Benz before driving off
His new bride is also trying to look on the bright side.
‘Someone said that, you know, when it rains on your wedding day, it usually means good things are to come,’ she said.
‘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 said they are not at all looking for donations to make up for the stolen cash and just want the suspect to be caught.
Daily Mail contacted the Glendale Police Department and Renaissance Banquet for comment.
