St. Paul Street in Auckland CBD

28^th February 2012 10:30PM

Tonight my friend Calvin and Reshmi and I were on our way to Hulucat Teahouse when we witnessed an act of robbery.

We were walking along St. Paul Street. I was just talking to Reshmi about how dangerous  St. Paul Street is during the night time. I told her about the events happened on that street. The next moment we heard some screaming for HELP!

I turned back and started walking to check what was going on, and then suddenly a girl who was running away with a bag bumped into my friend Calvin. The bag fell onto the footpath. Another girl who was the victim came running behind her she picked up her bag. I grabbed robber's jacket with one hand and with other hand I got my cellphone to call the cops. In meantime we were joined by other people who also heard the scream.

The thief took her Jacket off that I was holding and tried to run away. We saw a car passing by, people inside the car opened the passenger door for her.  But the other people nearby wouldn’t let her run away and caught her. The car went away but came back again after one minute and once again the girl tried to run away but again people didn't let her go. I was still talking on the phone with the police. Police wanted me to describe the appearance of the girl. I gave the phone to another witness and I saw the thief running to AUT Campus. But she couldn't go any further as the gates were locked and so came back. By this time we had the AUT Security with us. At that time I gave the Jacket back to her. She was crying. She told my friend Calvin, those guys in the car made her take the bag. She also said they would make her kill herself. Calvin said to her, if what you have said to us is true then police will help you. Running away will not help you. When I looked at her she was scared and crying. Calvin told her, “You will be fine, if everything you told us is true tell the police, they will help you, and protect you. You will be safe.

The police also wanted to talk to the thief on the phone. After she finishes talking to the police, I asked her, Do you need water? She didn't reply. But I still went and bought water for her from a convenience store. When I was returned most of the people were going back home, some of them even saw me carrying a bottle and I told them I was taking this water for her.

 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27”

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Mathew 1o:42

Calvin & I along with AUT security guards were waiting for the police to arrive. I talked to the victim and told her and her friend how dangerous St. Paul Street is at night time. They are not many people on the street to help you. And you were lucky to get your things back; actually I wanted to tell her how God helped her in this situation. But I didn't know how to!

At the same time Calvin was talking to the thief and she said, look at them (the victim & her friend) they have everything, iPhone, money, etc., I don't have anything. Even you (Calvin) have a nice leather jacket. (He was wearing a new leather jacket that night) from that point; Calvin understood another thing about her intention when she attempted the robbery. She did need money. He asked her, “Are you a Kiwi?” She nodded. He said, “Then you should have better treatment then us!” Calvin told her, “We are Asians, immigrants, or international student; we work hard to earn every single coin for all these things” Of course not every single Asian is as hard working as that, but his point was actually to tell her that even if you got nothing, you still shouldn’t steal. She ranted, “I can’t even get a job! Every time I get anything, people just take it away from Me.”, Calvin asked.  “Even your family?”

She sat silently on the edge of the AUT Art & Design building. But from that conversation we understood the complex background of that thief. Calvin told the victim But if you steal from her, she will not able to communicate with her family back in her country, and most of us young Asians are here for study, we are alone here. If you steal her phone, you might steal her only possession. And if you continue stealing from anyone, what will they have left? What would they have? Do you want everyone to be like you? I’m sure you don’t want that right?” She didn’t answer but her expression showed she agreed. Calvin told her that nice his leather jacket is Fake. She burst out a giggle, which was beautiful, it’s a beautiful scene when you see people burst out with a smile or giggle after a long time of crying.

The police now arrived at the incident some 15-20 minutes after the phone call. The lady officer went to the thief and talked to her for a while. She took her inside the car and we waited for another police car to arrive to take the victim & her friend safely back home.

Later at Hulucat, Calvin told me he remembered the song "People need the Lord" by Steve Green

Every day they pass me by,
I can see it in their eye.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?
On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize --people need the Lord?
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What would be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.