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Auto Shop Owner Says Two People Robbed His Phone & Wallet

NORTH MIAMI (CBSMiami) - When two young men on bikes pulled up to High Tech Automotive, Mike Smith had just stepped out of his office and gone into the adjoining shop to start a car. The crime was caught on video.

"They actually called from the door of the shop," said Smith. " I figured they're just selling stuff which happens quite regularly you know… fruit, underwear, whatever. Normally, I just chase them off nicely but I just ignored them figuring I'm going to be a second and I saw them leave."

At least that's what he thought. Surveillance video shows, while Smith was in the shop, one of the two men went into his office.

Smith said he returned to the office less than 30 seconds later to find his phone and wallet gone so he jumped in his car and managed to catch up with the alleged thieves.

"He panicked, dropped his bike and his bag… nothing in it unfortunately," said Smith who added that the man jumped the fence into the park.

Click here to watch Maggie Newland's report. 

"I put my hands on the fence and said, 'Stop or I'll shoot. Stop or I'll shoot.' He turned around panicked and just threw something on the floor and then took off running again so I jumped the fence. I don't know how I managed that but I jumped the fence and I walked into the field and looked around a little and saw my phone but no wallet."

Which is what he really needs.

"I don't care about the money. If they'd tossed my wallet back through the door, I wouldn't have cared - keep the money but it's got my green card in there, driver's license all my credit cards which I cancelled immediately but the green card you know immigration don't care. They don't say $20 replacement," said Smith.

Smith served in the military for 21 years and was a former security director. He can't believe he didn't lock his office like he always does.

"I felt stupid cause I wouldn't normally do that," said Smith.

But he says it's the guys who should be punished.

"I'd put them away. They deserve it. If they'll do it to me, they'll do it to anybody," said Smith.

A North Miami Beach detective picked up the surveillance video Friday evening to assist with the investigation.

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