Terrified Chicago woman spots something strange in her car. Then a cop comes to help and ends up laughing

A Chicago woman thought something frightening had gotten inside her car, prompting her to flag down police for help. But when an officer investigated, the suspected intruder turned out to be much smaller and far less dangerous than she feared.

TikTok creator Cat (@cat01._) shared the encounter in an August 2026 video. According to her account in the video and its caption, she spent about 10 minutes outside her vehicle calling for help after spotting what she described as a large black bug inside.

At one point, Cat told people nearby that she had recorded the insect because she worried others might think she was imagining it. She said she did not want to get back into the car and risk having the bug crawl onto her.

Then the police arrived.

Cat told viewers that officers initially passed by before turning around after she flagged them down. She explained that a responding officer approached the vehicle and used a flashlight to look for the insect. The officer eventually spotted it.

Cat’s video captures her continuing to react as the officer tried to deal with the bug. She warned the officer to be careful and then asked him to get rid of it. At one point, she tossed off a shoe and offered it as a potential weapon against the insect. A comment called it a cicada.

The tense encounter eventually turned into a funny moment for everyone involved. After the cop dealt with the bug, Cat thanked the officer repeatedly and said she appreciated the assistance.

She also joked about losing her shoe during the commotion. She described the officers’ reaction as laughter after she explained what was inside her car and thanked the officer who ultimately helped.

There is a seasonal reason Chicago residents may encounter large insects in August.

Illinois has both annual, or dog-day, cicadas and periodical cicadas. According to the University of Illinois Extension, annual cicadas typically emerge from July through September, while periodical cicadas follow a 13- or 17-year cycle.

Illinois’ annual cicadas, however, can grow to roughly 2 inches long, with their wings making them appear even larger. The University of Illinois Extension says cicadas do not pose a threat to people or pets.

Even still, Maia’s comments reflected what it’s like to have the insects in your car. One commenter noted, “one flew into my car while i was driving and the screeching noise was so loud it felt like there was 100 of them in every direction i had to slam the brakes and hop out.”

Another responded, “Bro I had one stuck in my car for like a week I could never find it in the day time & at night it would be loud aff & everytime I gained the courage to kill it it would hide & be quiet.”