Hyde’s Meat Shop at the corner of Bocotora and Hicatee Streets is closed for renovations but that didn’t stop two thieves from breaking into the business early this morning. They broke 6 locks and busted through four doors but still left empty handed. Here’s what happened.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The thieves entered the building by ripping open these shutters on Hicatee Street.
Alvin Hyde Jr., Businessman
“I heard a commotion with the shutters and after I heard that commotion I was between sleep and wake and so I listened carefully. After listening the commotion kind of stopped so I thought it was the breeze blowing the zinc against the wall and creating the commotion.”
But it wasn’t the wind – it was robbers. Once inside they broke off this lock and entered the meat shop where Alvin Hyde Jr. and his family were sleeping. That is when Hyde, with this very machete in hand, came face to face with the robbers.
Alvin Hyde Jr.,
“After that I get up, I opened the front door and I came and I looked around inside. When I looked around inside I didn’t see nowhere where they could have come in so I went back and I got back under my cover because it was really cold.
I kept on listening when I heard a
commotion that the zinc raised and a board moved and I knew that was somebody. When I heard the board moved I jumped up, put on my slippers, got my machete, and I woke my wife.”
Angela Hyde, Businesswoman
“I decided to call the police because he was out there, he doesn’t know who all was out there or what was going on and he came out. So I told him to wait but by the time I called him, they had already came over here already.”
Alvin Hyde Jr.,
“I came to the door and I heard over here that they were digging up so I know yes someone was in here. We peeped through there and we see the shadow and so somebody was in the back searching it in front of the door and so I drew the two bolts, top and bottom, and I popped open the door. When I popped open the door, a guy faced me and he was stooped down, got up, made two steps back way. I had the machete in my hand and now I was wondering if I should hit him but I said probably he had a gun. After I saw he didn’t make a move I said he didn’t have a gun and so I made my move and then he run.”
Both robbers ran away empty handed.
Alvin Hyde Jr.,
“They never did get nothing because the quickness within which they started to search I was already alert. By the time they got in and started to search, I was already alert so they didn’t have time to get nothing.”
Keith Swift,
“And was there anything to steal?”
Alvin Hyde Jr.,
“Well no because right now we aren’t doing any business. Like I tell you, we are renovate this place for a mall.”
Angela Hyde,
“All I would want to say to the people is nothing is going on here. We are not no big rich people. We are trying like everybody else. Boss when you see people the try it is not worth the while. Get a job. You don’t have to be doing this to poor people.”
Alvin Hyde Jr.,
“For me I have experience out here in the street. Am a farmer and a rancher, I am a cowboy and so I know what it is all about. I have been in the street and I know what is happening. So these guys, they don’t scare me. But if I had a gun, I would have blown him up. The least he would have gotten was three shots. He would have been dead on the spot. The two of them would have died.”
Alvin Hyde Jr. told us that he has applied for a gun license and now hopes it will be approved. Meanwhile police as they say are investigating.
