Exclusive: Three Armed Thieves Storm Homestead Scrap Metal Business

HOMESTEAD (CBS4) - Business as usual became business bizarre at Homestead Metal Recycling at 138 NW 9 Avenue Tuesday. 

Just before 11:30am, three men wearing black hoodies stormed the scrap metal business with assault-style weapons.

Teresa Rabassa, one of the employees, went from looking at scrap metal to looking down the metal barrel of a gun.

"It all happened very fast," she told CBS4's Brian Andrews.

The robbery was captured on security camera system installed at the business.  The whole thing lasted less than 45 seconds, with the gunmen taking off on foot, with nearly $3000 in cash from the business and several hundred dollars in an employee's purse.

Manager Ana San Roman was in tears as she talked about the business just opening less than three months ago and how they were just trying to help people going through tough economic times in the neighborhood.

"One of my employees quit because he's afraid for his life," she said. "Now, I'm upset because I don't want to put any of my employees in danger."

San Roman says she is not sure why her business was a target, but says everyone in the neighborhood knows they can come there with metal to recycle for cash.

"Most of our customers are people who are struggling to make a living because of the economy and the way that it is," she said.

Homestead Detective Andres Rodriguez says the department is following up several strong leads.

"We still need the public's help to figure out who these men are," he said.

As for Teresa Rabassa, whom the robbers pointed their guns at as they burst in, she says she's more upset they stole her driver license and immigration documents than all of the money she had in her purse.

"Thank God I'm ok and no one got hurt," she said.