A single mother working at a coffee shop in Chicago’s West Loop was recently targeted while on the job.
Police are investigating after a man allegedly slipped into the back room during the busy afternoon rush and took off with her purse.
Minesha Godsey was back at work on Thursday making coffee, trying to bounce back after what happened less than 24 hours ago.
“It’s heartbreaking, you know, just this feeling of violation,” she told NBC Chicago.
The 29-year-old is a single mother trying to provide for her 5-year-old daughter while paying her way through college.
“I’m here trying to make a living for me and my daughter,” she said. “It’s just like, man, someone’s going to come in and take my wallet and try to use all my money.”
Surveillance video from Wednesday captured a man sneaking into the back room at VietFive Coffee Shop near Madison and Aberdeen just before 3:30 p.m.
NBC Chicago blurred the man’s face since police haven’t officially named him a suspect.
Godsey said he walked out with her purse and made several withdrawals from her bank.
“I was shocked. I was disappointed. I was all over the place, because I’m working, and my phone is like notifying me that transactions are occurring, and I’m like, I’m not at a Shell gas station right now,” she said.
Godsey said he took around $300 dollars in cash and at the gas station. It’s money she need to pay her bills.
“You never know what people are going through. It’s a time of trouble. People don’t have anything. Finances is tough, you know, but that don’t give you the right to take from someone else,” she said.
But the community is stepping up.
Since Minesha’s story was shared on social media, people have donated more than double what the suspect took.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude honestly, I’m so grateful, I’m so blessed,” she said. “I don’t want to cry.”
“It’s been tremendous. There have been a handful of folks sending Zelle and things like that to support her, knowing that she’s part of our community here,” said Tuan Huynh, VietFive Coffee owner.
Huynh said this speaks to her character and the community they’re building and serving—helping those with disabilities, giving others a second chance and even extending grace to the man caught on camera.
“We don’t dislike the person, just really the act,” he said. “So if he has to live within those means and how he’s doing—maybe we can create a pathway for him to do better and be better.”
Chicago police said a report is still being finalized for the incident.
