Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
This story was first sent in by a student at INTI International College Subang, SS15 Subang Jaya. IRL interviewed him and verified that his story and police report was genuine.
Hi, I’m Ray, I’m 25 this year and I’m a student at INTI college.
On Wednesday, 6th of September 2023, at approximately around 2:00pm, I blacked out after trying a new flavour at a vape store. This is the story of what happened to me and how I narrowly escaped.
I went to my go-to store to refill my vape liquid
My go-to shop where I always buy my vape liquid was VapeXprezz, beside the mamak called Canai at SS15. That day, I went there to buy more vape liquid.
When I entered the store, the employee offered a new juice flavour to try, so I gave it a go. I remember taking around 5-6 puffs.
After I took it, I overheard him saying it was a “mushroom” flavour with a mixture of ingredients from Thailand and Amsterdam.
Immediately, I started feeling like something was wrong. My vision went hazy and I felt like passing out.
I leaned against the wall, trying to recover. Although I couldn’t see anything, I could hear everything. I tried to speak but I couldn’t shout or call for help. The feeling of helplessness was scary.
With what little consciousness I still had, I texted my friend ‘HELP ME’ and sent my live location through Whatsapp.
I felt rough hands probing around my pockets
While I was trying to recover, I felt rough hands moving around in my pockets. I couldn’t see who was trying to steal my wallet, but I could overhear someone saying “Eh cepatlah!”
Whoever it was tried to wrestle my wallet from my hands, but my fight or flight instinct kicked in, and I gripped my wallet as tightly as I could.
Thankfully, there were multiple customers that entered the shop, and I felt the hands disappear. As the customers chatted to the employees, each of them asked, “What’s wrong with him?” pointing to me.
I wanted to scream, “Please help, I’ve been drugged,” but my voice was too soft and low. The employees made some excuse for my behaviour, saying “Don’t worry, he’s just tired.”
After what felt like hours in the store, I finally was able to get out. I stumbled down the street while trying to get my bearings. My only thought was to return towards the campus, speak to the guard, and see a doctor.
The vape shop employee tried to get me to follow him into an alley
Image: My friend was able to take a video of the man who followed us to campus.
As I was stumbling down the street, I felt an arm around my shoulder. It was the vape shop employee.
He gripped me tightly as if making sure I couldn’t run away, and then whispered in my ear: “Do you know what you took just now?”
I was afraid so I tried to play dumb and said, “It’s just some new vape flavour, right?” He asked me, “Where are you going?” I replied, “I’m going home.”
He said to me, “Let’s go this way,” and he tried to steer me towards an alley. At this point, I got desperate. I knew going to the alley was a bad idea, but I was afraid of what he’d do if I resisted.
Thinking recklessly, I walked into the middle of the street, right in front of a moving car. The car was moving quite fast, but luckily it stopped right in front of me, honking loudly.
The vape shop employee was surprised and let go of me, and in the confusion I started running away from him.
At this point, my friend was able to spot me, and called out to me. She said she had been frantically looking everywhere for me. As she walked beside me, she asked me why I looked so pale. She said I looked like a ghost.
I told her I was drugged and I’d explain everything once we reached the guardhouse in front of campus. Then she turned around and looked behind me and said, “Ray, who’s that guy following us?”
I turned around and saw the vape shop employee following us. I noticed he was wearing my cap, which I’d somehow dropped earlier.
We quickened our pace, and she was dragging me as fast as she could. She picked up her phone and called a few of our friends to come meet us at the guardhouse.
She managed to get a short video of the man as he approached the guardhouse.
When we reached the guardhouse, the vape shop employee grabbed me again
Once we reached the guardhouse, I thought we were safe, but the vape shop employee ran inside and grabbed me.
Incredibly, he claimed he was performing a citizen’s arrest on me for taking drugs!
The guard said, “Whatever this is, take it outside.” As we went outside, the man tried to take my wallet and phone, again! The guard noticed this and stopped him, asking him why he was doing that.
Then my friend explained the whole situation to him, and showed the video she took the guard. She convinced the guard to halau the sketchy pursuer and we got into a shouting match with the man. My other friends arrived at the guardhouse and backed me up. No doubt the CCTV would show this part of the story as well.
Finally, the guard told the man, “Get out of here or I’ll call the police.” The man threw my cap on the ground and walked away.
I was taken to a hospital and made a police report
Image: The medical report (left) describing it as “vape toxicity” and the police report (middle; right).
I ended up being brought by 3 friends to the nearest hospital SJMC to clean whatever was in my system. The medical report said it was “vape toxicity”. Unfortunately, since they didn’t run a test for any specific drug, to this day I still don’t know what it was that I took.
I also went to 2 police stations to make a police report.
What I think is, this is not the first time this employee has pulled this stunt. I don’t believe I’m his first victim, but I was the first one that wasn’t fully knocked out and he didn’t get my money.
I’m grateful it didn’t go according to his plan, but ever since that incident, I’m very paranoid about going outside.
If you’re reading this story, please be more careful whenever you’re out and about. Always bring a friend with you. Never take anything offered to you unless you trust them.
I hope the authorities will bring this man swiftly to justice.
IRL has reached out to VapeExprezz for a statement, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Have you experienced something similar before?
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Read also: This Penang Man Tricks People Into Giving Him A Ride, Then Takes Their Phone and Wallet
https://inreallife.my/penang-man-tricks-people-into-giving-a-ride-takes-their-phone-and-wallet/
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