Houston bar owner has 'no choice' but to sleep at restaurant after burglaries: 'Got to defend what's ours'
Raul Jacobo said he was forced to sleep in his Texas bar to 'protect' his property from repeat robberies
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Houston, Texas, bar owner is taking drastic measures to protect his business, sleeping in his restaurant to protect his establishment after he endured a string of burglaries carried out by an alleged repeat offender.
Cobo's BBQ owner Raul Jacobo joined "Fox & Friends First" Tuesday to discuss how crime has impacted his ability to do business in his hometown, and why he believes he needs to resort to sleeping at the bar to stop the criminals from striking again.
"This is a major issue with our city right now," Jacobo told co-host Carley Shimkus. "If I'm frustrated… based on these burglaries, I could just imagine how families feel that they've actually lost loved ones because certain criminals are put back out on the street."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's just a very frustrating situation… all around… we have no choice but to sleep in our establishments just to protect what's ours," he continued.
The bar was hit with the first burglary on New Year's Eve, and the incident was all caught on surveillance footage. The perpetrator reportedly stole cash and a deposit bag.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But the suspect wasn't done yet. Jacobo claimed the same criminal struck again just days later.
"While he's there, he's actually staking the place out," Jacobo said. "So when he goes in four days later, he actually goes in with a military-style duffel bag and takes about 37 bottles worth of liquor."
"He knew exactly what he was doing the second time," he continued. "He throws a brick through our front glass door."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}‘OUR CITY IS IN PERIL’: PORTLAND BUSINESS OWNERS DEMAND MORE ACTION AS CRIMINALS ‘WREAK HAVOC’
Jacobo, who was born and raised in Houston, expressed his disappointment with the city over the recent crime surge.
He alleged the burglar who targeted his bar is a career criminal who was arrested several times, with one being just before the first incident.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We are fearful for our lives, and we've got to defend what's ours… under any means necessary," Jacobo said. "Hopefully he does get caught again, and it sticks. But… we just don't see that that's the case. We really feel like Houston is letting us down on this one."
Meanwhile, crime has impacted small businesses nationwide, as other owners are also forced to take drastic steps to protect their property.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}One Chicago pizzeria owner went cashless to evade the Windy City's surge in violence but was targeted anyway.
George's Deep Dish owner George Bumbaris told "Fox & Friends First" co-host Todd Piro that he had sentimental framed bills stolen from his restaurant months after making the change.
"The bills that were there was originally when we had our opening party, had some friends and family over, they signed some bills saying good luck and best wishes and that sort of thing," Bumbaris said. "There is the one that was the first $20 that we accepted as a restaurant when I opened up a little over a year and a half ago, that's when I did take cash."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bumbaris said he made security changes following the break-in, but is hopeful to remain in business despite the crippling crime wave.