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Pho real? San Jose restaurant employees wrestle with attempted 'robot server kidnapper'
ABC-7 ^

Posted on 01/26/2025 6:14:22 AM PST by TigerClaws

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Employees at Pho 21 restaurant in South San Jose had an unexpected showdown last weekend with what could be considered an attempted "robot kidnapper."

Surveillance footage from the restaurant captured the bizarre incident at around 7:40 a.m. last Saturday. A man entered the restaurant, asked to use the restroom and then emerged with a much stranger plan. He can be seen on surveillance talking with an employee and then, instead of leaving the shop, grabbing one of the restaurant's three robot servers and trying to haul it out the front door toward his car, which was parked right outside. The man appears to struggle slightly, at the weight of the device.

The scene turned chaotic as employees scrambled to intervene, yelling and struggling to wrestle the robot back. Eventually, they get the man to release the robot before calling the police.

According to the restaurant's owner, the robot is valued at approximately $18,000 but would have been worthless to the would-be thief. Owner of Pho 21, Tony Ngo says the device requires specialized programming to function, making it unusable outside of the restaurant.

No injuries were reported, and the robot server was not injured and is back on the clock - delivering bowls of pho to hungry customers.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 01/26/2025 6:14:22 AM PST by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws

It wasn’t Woody Allen, was it?


2 posted on 01/26/2025 6:17:34 AM PST by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: telescope115

No, but it did know the way to San Jose.

Was the robber John Connor?

Pho shore!


3 posted on 01/26/2025 6:19:54 AM PST by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws

OMG what a funny video. The dude didn’t even have the hatchback open ready to load. LOL.


4 posted on 01/26/2025 6:20:09 AM PST by yldstrk
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To: TigerClaws

a real asian who was good at math could remote-hack the server to make it kidnap itself


5 posted on 01/26/2025 6:21:41 AM PST by Strict9
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To: yldstrk

a robotnapping gone awry because of bad planning.


6 posted on 01/26/2025 6:22:12 AM PST by Qwapisking (Q: know the difference between a petulant 6 y.o. and a liberal? A:age. L.Star )
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To: TigerClaws
Does it have a nice caboose?


7 posted on 01/26/2025 6:27:53 AM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: TigerClaws

Now, Twiki is back on the job - a little bruised, but working, again.


8 posted on 01/26/2025 6:33:46 AM PST by Empire_of_Liberty ( )
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To: TigerClaws
If you don't want to deal with the lagging, ads, and pop-ups on the ABC site, here's the video on X.

Man tries to steal a robot at Pho 21 San Jose in California

They really will steal anything.

9 posted on 01/26/2025 6:42:24 AM PST by Drew68
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To: All

10 posted on 01/26/2025 6:42:28 AM PST by Liz ((This then is how we should pray: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ))
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To: TigerClaws

The article does not give any sort of ID for the robber.
Another article says the restaurant owner did not bother having the police out — that’s how much he values the City’s “police protection”. If said police were worth diddly they would run down this likely gang member/repeat offender via the license plate number.


11 posted on 01/26/2025 6:46:34 AM PST by Chewbarkah
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To: Chewbarkah

Soros DA?

It is California.

Asians have a distrust of authorities in general. Operate on a cash basis (pay cash for big ticket items as they don’t pay taxes.). Perhaps not THIS bunch but those I know where I live.


12 posted on 01/26/2025 6:50:09 AM PST by TigerClaws
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To: Chewbarkah

Smells a bit like a self-help repossession.


13 posted on 01/26/2025 7:08:58 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: TigerClaws

The back of the dude’s was so full of crap Twiki wouldn’t have fit anyway. Wish there had been audio


14 posted on 01/26/2025 7:12:12 AM PST by RWGinger (FJB)
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To: Liz
Lonely guy figured a good tool kit, YouTube How-To Videos and enough determination...

APowersFembots

15 posted on 01/26/2025 7:15:12 AM PST by MikelTackNailer (Fortunately despite aging I've eluded the snares of aquired wisdom.)
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To: TigerClaws

I thought the headline was saying The Robot was trying to kidnap one of the customers!
The manager would need to flip a switch or two, and disable that naughty Robot!


16 posted on 01/26/2025 7:17:33 AM PST by lee martell
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To: TigerClaws

🤣


17 posted on 01/26/2025 7:26:45 AM PST by telescope115 (I NEED MY SPACE!!! 🔭)
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To: TigerClaws

It’s not a robot; it’s a phobot! 😜


18 posted on 01/26/2025 7:57:25 AM PST by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: TigerClaws

“No injuries were reported, and the robot server was not injured and is back on the clock”

Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised if the robot files a lawsuit. It is California after all.


19 posted on 01/26/2025 8:03:09 AM PST by BobL
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To: Chewbarkah

We need the rooftop Koreans again.


20 posted on 01/26/2025 8:40:21 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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