SAN ANTONIO – A man who spends his time as a community activist is being forced to move. In the last week, thieves have broken into his apartment twice, and he no longer feels his family is safe.
It was a frightening and infuriating sight when Tyrone Polk discovered his apartment had been burglarized for a second time.
“(There’s a) big hole from the other side of the empty apartment. They (burglars) came through the hole and came in and took everything out. That's how they got the doors open,” Polk said.
Along with a gaping hole in the closet wall, the thief left Polk’s home trashed.
“The kids started crying. I had a hard time calming down my 3-year-old. (She was) just crying, ‘Daddy. Daddy. What happened?’” Polk said.
The burglary happened this week at Polk’s Northeast Side apartment at the Oaks of Marymount.
“The first time they just took all the big stuff: TVs, computer screens, the PlayStation,” Polk said. “All the Christmas gifts were gone, everything we work hard for.”
Polk said the second time thieves went for more than just valuables.
“All my hats, all my clothes, kids clothes, my wife's purses, all the groceries, everything,” he said.
Polk has a 3-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 3-month-old. Their safety was why the family immediately started moving out.
“This is literally what we have left from the break in. Everything fits in the truck,” Polk said.
As he looked at the few belongings they have left, Polk felt anger.
“If somebody was going through something, I could easily help them. I could get them what they needed,” he said.
Polk leads many community service efforts citywide. He’s known for helping anyone in need. Even after everything, he said he’s “still in the giving spirit.”
“We're going to make something happen for Christmas,” Polk said.
A big group has helped the family move out and rent the hotel room they’re currently staying in. Polk said both of the burglaries happened in broad daylight.
Anyone with information is asked to call San Antonio Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867.
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