Ananova:

An armed robber held up a barbecue dinner party - then changed his mind and asked for a hug instead.

Guests were sitting on the back patio of a home in Washington DC when the hooded man slid in through an open gate.

He put a handgun to the head of a 14-year-old guest and said: "Give me your money, or I'll start shooting."

The Washington Post says the five other guests, including the girls' parents, froze until one said: "We were just finishing dinner. Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder took a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry and said: "Damn, that's good wine."

The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, told the intruder, described as being in his 20s, to take the whole glass.

The would-be robber, his hood now down, took another sip and had a bite of Camembert cheese that was on the table.

Then he tucked the gun into the pocket of his nylon sweatpants: "I think I may have come to the wrong house," he said. "I'm sorry. Can I get a hug?"

Each of the relieved guests hugged him in turn before he made a final request - for a group hug, which was also granted.

With that, the man walked out with a crystal wine glass in hand. No one was hurt, and nothing was stolen.

Police classified the case as strange but true and said they had not located a suspect.

"We believe it is a true robbery," said Cmdr. Diane Groomes, adding, "I've never heard of a robber joining a party and then walking out to the sunset."

The hug, she said, was especially unusual. "They should have squeezed him and held onto him for us," she said.