Early Monday morning, a local Hampden business, Papi's Tacos, became the target of a burglary that escalated into a dangerous confrontation. A spokesperson from the restaurant relayed to CBS News Baltimore that the owner, upon receiving a break-in alert at approximately 3:45 a.m., arrived to find the culprits in the act of fleeing the scene. In pursuit, the owner was forced to confront the burglars who then rammed his vehicle and opened fire, discharging two shots.
The encounter took a turn when the owner, determined to not let the thieves escape, rammed their car. This action, driven by a bid to foil the escape, immobilized the burglars' vehicle. In a statement posted on social media, described by WMAR-2 News, the eatery's representatives detailed the chaotic moments: "In a panic he rammed their vehicle, eventually disabling their car."
The aftermath of the incident saw the suspects leave with a safe, liquor, and additional items from Papi's Tacos. However, the diligence of the authorities led to the recovery of numerous stolen goods, a gun, and a bullet casing, as told to CBS News Baltimore by the restaurant's owner. The owner, despite the violent encounter, was not injured.
To provide transparency and possibly aid in the ongoing investigation, Papi's Tacos shared on Facebook surveillance footage capturing both the burglary and the subsequent collision. The post declared, "A little after 4am our owner pulled up and saw 2 people leaving the building. As he followed them they ran to a car and fired 2 shots at him." The restaurant confirmed that despite the harrowing experience, the owner was not hit. Baltimore police are reportedly continuing to actively investigate the break-in, as the masked burglars have yet to be apprehended.
