- A Chicago street performer continued his song after a teen allegedly stole his tip box during a busy performance.
- The theft occurred in broad daylight while Andrew David was singing Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect' near State and Madison.
- A nearby school identified the teen, apologized, and reimbursed the stolen money after the video went viral.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — A longtime Chicago street performer kept singing after a teen allegedly snatched his tip box in the middle of a busy downtown performance. The viral theft comes as residents continue to raise concerns about public safety in the city, including after Chicago police fatally shot a driver linked to an expressway shooting following a Humboldt Park pursuit.
Andrew David, a familiar performer in Chicago’s Loop, was singing Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” on Monday when the incident unfolded near State and Madison. Video from his own recording setup showed a teen in a gray hoodie and black face mask approaching his performance area before grabbing the donation box and walking away.
Tip Box Taken During Performance
David said he had been performing in front of a crowd when the teen waited for the right moment and took the box filled with tips from passersby.
The box reportedly contained about $100, but David said the container itself was what he wanted back most.
“Hey, at least give me the box back please,” David could be heard saying after the teen walked away.
David did not chase after the teen. He later said he made a quick decision not to escalate the situation or add more negativity to the moment.
Video Goes Viral
David posted the footage online, where it quickly gained attention across social media. After reviewing the recording, he said he noticed the teen had been lingering in the area before the theft happened.
According to reports, the teen had passed by earlier with a group of people and later returned before taking the tip box.
A bystander eventually returned the empty box to David.
School and Mother Reach Out
After the video spread, someone recognized the teen and a nearby school contacted David. School officials reportedly told him they did not condone the behavior and said the student would be disciplined according to school policy.
The school reimbursed the stolen money, and the teen’s mother also reached out to apologize.
David later met with the school’s principal, who showed him around the campus and explained the resources available to students.
Performer Hopes Teen Learns From It
David, who has been street performing in Chicago for nearly a decade, said this was not the first time he had been robbed while performing.
Still, he said he does not plan to file a police report or pursue criminal charges.
Instead, David said he hopes the attention around the viral video becomes a lesson for the teen and encourages better choices moving forward.
To watch more cases about public crimes caught on camera, check out our video here:
