Moh Habib, who owns the sneaker store STUDIIYO23 in Minneapolis, says he was targeted by looters two weeks after reopening following a seven month closure due to looters during the George Floyd riots.
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
An suv built around you all of you,
Steve, a third straight night of
Steve, a third straight night of
protest and trouble in
Minnesota,
the scene all too familiar in n,
that state
last may of twenty twenty sneaker
boutique studio. Twenty three bass looted
during the riot in Minneapolis.
They lost about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth
of merchandise and were forced
to close for seven months.
Then, finally, two weeks ago, they
finally reopened and guess what
they were once again looted amid
the latest unrest
and studio. Twenty three has to once again try to rebuild.
Try to rebuild
the owner of that store, MO ha ha
joins us now.
Thanks for having me on
your store is fifteen miles away
from Brooklyn Center.
Why did they hit you a second
time?
You know we woke up and
asked ourselves the same
question
and its just a matter of
opportunists. Looking for any
chance to thief, loot burn
break into property. That is not
theirs and we just happen to be
a very popular place in the
city
where you know folks can come
together and not only you know,
purchase goods, but we operate as
an art gearl.
We have always been a community
space where people come
together.
Its such a shame people take
advantage of an already terrible
situation,
Steve looking at the video
where they cleaned you out
its heart. Breaking.
What about the police?
Did the police ever show up
the first time they did not,
and by the first time I mean
after the George Floyd death
back in may
this time. By the time I arrived
at the scene, there were
officers there,
but because the city was so
busy with crimes everywhere. As
soon as I got there, the owner
they needed to pick up and leave
to attend to other calls that
they were receiving
Steve well as a business owner
who works their entire life to
build the business, thatS got to
be heart breaking thats. The
whole reason we have a police
force is to help you, when you
are in a situation like that
right.
The first time was pretty
devastating, because you know
we would see squad cars drive up,
but no one was able to help us
and I get it
the city the first time around
was everyone sought. Videos
was on fire
and I believe the police force
was already strained that
evening
and then this past time. You
know, I still understand you
know there is app dot s to show you
where crime is happening.
It was all around us.
We were being surrounded by
looters and even when we arrived
at the scene and the police
left, if it wasnt for myself
and five staff and friends who
unfortunately had to be armed in
front of our boutique looters
kept coming in waves to try to
get us again,
Steve, unbelievable
after the George Floyd killing,
and then you were looted. It
took you seven months to
rebuild
you finally get to the point you
reopen and boom. This happens.
You know, do you think the
mindset of the person who is
doing the looting instead of
thinking you know this guy has
got insurance?
He is going to be fine.
You know that definitely
plays a part of it
and a lot of the Times York gets
that far.
I just think they have seen
opportunity where they know that
law enforcement is going to be
extremely busy and not age. To
respond able to respond to all.
There are selfish people out
there in the world who take
advantage when people are down.
People know what happened to us.
We are not the only ones,
thousands of businesses across
Minnesota and across the u dot. S
were devastated not only by
lootings, but then you add, on top
of that, the pandemic and the
economic pressure that that puts
on business owners all across
the nation and its been really
tough.
So for us to be able to reopen
and be the light in the city
that people expect us to be, and
all our community action? U DOT, SS
its tough to know that now we
have to close again sole source
of income for me and my two
little kids and their staff, its
their only source of income as
Well
Steve. It is heart, breaking
im sure there are Hermine who
would like to help. You out,
I know there is a go fund me
page, to go to go fund me dot com, as
you can see right there
studio twenty three dash recovery,
MOH! Good luck to you.
Transcript generated on 2021-04-14.