Man Attempts to Kidnap Barista at a Coffee Shop Drive-Thru Window

The scary incident occurred in Auburn, Washington. A suspect is now in custody.

By Jonathan Small | Jan 18, 2023

Police in Auburn, Washington, have arrested a man suspected of trying to kidnap a barista at the drive-thru window of an unidentified coffee shop.

The scary incident occurred at 5 am yesterday. Surveillance footage captured a man waiting at the window in a pickup truck. As the barista hands back his change, he grabs her wrist, trying to pull her into his vehicle using a looped zip tie.

Luckily, the barista was able to fend off the attacker and shut the drive-thru window, causing the man to speed away.

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Police make an arrest

Police released a video of the attempted abduction asking for help identifying the suspect. One early lead was a tattoo on the man’s left forearm caught on video. Police tweeted a photo writing that the marking appears to read “Chevrolet.”

After receiving a large number of tips, police captured a suspect earlier this afternoon.

The barista, who had worked at the coffee shop for 15 years, was working alone at the time of the incident. She suffered minor cuts, a police spokesperson told The Seattle Times.

At press time, police would not identify where the incident happened.

Police in Auburn, Washington, have arrested a man suspected of trying to kidnap a barista at the drive-thru window of an unidentified coffee shop.

The scary incident occurred at 5 am yesterday. Surveillance footage captured a man waiting at the window in a pickup truck. As the barista hands back his change, he grabs her wrist, trying to pull her into his vehicle using a looped zip tie.

Luckily, the barista was able to fend off the attacker and shut the drive-thru window, causing the man to speed away.

Jonathan Small

Founder, Strike Fire Productions
Entrepreneur Staff
Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV...

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