A typical morning at a local coffee shop in Houston's Woodland Heights neighborhood climbed in a dramatic chase as a woman successfully confronts and defeats a thief to recover her stolen backpack.

The entire incident, which took place outside Uncle Bean's Coffee last Monday, was caught on surveillance footage.

Clàudia, a frequent patron of the cafe, was engrossed in her work on the computer when her morning was interrupted. Describing the moment the robbery happened, Claudia said: “I was just minding my own business. I just feel a presence.”

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Surveillance video revealed two women approaching her before one roughly grabbed her backpack and both fled the scene.

Clàudia's immediate reaction was stimulated by the abruptness of the act. “She wasn't friendly. Maybe if she had been nice taking the backpack, I wouldn't have noticed, but she was quite abrupt. I was surprised,” he explained.

Without hesitation, Claudia sprang into action, chasing the suspects. The chase ended with Clàudia confronting one of the women in the middle of the street, a confrontation that allowed her to regain possession of her bag.

Reflecting on her impulsive reaction, Claudia shared, “I had this moment, 'This is not happening.' in automatic”.

Coming out victorious, Clàudia managed to retrieve her backpack, which contained several valuable items, including her American and Cuban passports.

Thankful for her fitness, she credited her padel training for her ability to sprint and subdue the thief. “Fortunately, the training from my padel lessons has paid off, so I felt fit to run after them,” he commented.

After the ordeal, Clàudia has taken extra measures to protect her belongings, buying a hook for her purse to prevent future thefts.

Demonstrating his determination and a touch of humor, he warned would-be thieves: “Next time, if they try to take the backpack, they'll drag the table down with them. Don't try to rob a Cuban.”

After the incident, Claudia was able to alert a nearby police officer and filed a report with the Houston Police Department.

Authorities are now asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects involved in the attempted robbery.

Anyone with information about the suspects seen in the video footage is encouraged to contact local police as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.