On Christmas day, a recently opened bar in Houston’s Spring Branch fell victim to a brazen break-in that was captured on camera. The Decoy bar’s manager, Miguel Cruz, was left astounded as he watched the footage of a man effortlessly ripping the front gate off its hinges, gaining access to the outdoor patio.
Cruz recounted the audacious actions of the intruder, who seemed to make himself at home within the bar’s premises. The thief, armed with a suitcase, nonchalantly strolled into the bar’s outdoor patio, as if he owned the place. “Went right into the front, got some water from our water filler station, hung out,” Cruz described, still in disbelief. “I’m sure if the TV was on, he probably would have stayed all night.”
What followed was a series of bizarre and destructive acts that unfolded over the course of eight hours. The video evidence revealed the intruder indulging in food, crawling on the ground, tossing around explicit material, changing his clothes, and vandalizing the bar. Cruz’s voice trembled as he revealed the intruder’s most alarming act – starting fires with paper on the volleyball courts.
The situation took a dangerous turn when the bar’s cleaning crew arrived, unknowingly putting themselves at risk. The intruder managed to hide from them, leaving Cruz to ponder the potential harm that could have befallen the unsuspecting women. “He had every opportunity to get into the building and do harm to our cleaning crew – two ladies – and they had no idea this was happening,” Cruz expressed, his concern evident.
Eventually, the intruder departed, leaving behind a trail of destruction and making off with some volleyball equipment. Cruz estimated the damages to be in the thousands, a hefty blow to the recently opened establishment. Despite the financial setback, Cruz expressed gratitude that no one was physically harmed during the ordeal. “We’re grateful,” he emphasized. “At the end of the day, nobody got hurt.”
The Houston Police Department has released the surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the audacious intruder. If you recognize the man in the video or have any information regarding the incident, please contact the Houston Police at 713-884-3131.
As the investigation unfolds, the community remains on edge, shocked by the audacity and destructive nature of the intruder’s Christmas day rampage. The Decoy bar, once a symbol of celebration and camaraderie, now stands as a testament to the resilience of its staff and the determination of law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice.
