Bill Driver, owner of Driver’s Auto Painting at 300 Coliseum Dr., and his father were working inside the business when two subjects kicked the back door in to gain entry.
However, the subjects were startled when they realized that the workers were inside the shop.
“I’m sure they were very surprised to see Mr. Driver and his father,” said Snyder Police Sgt. Terry Luecke. “Obviously it wasn’t what they were expecting.”
Officers received the report of the intruders at 11:46 p.m. Sunday, and after further investigation of the area, discovered burglaries of the Word is Life Deliverance Church and the Pal-o-Mar Café and Flea Market.
The efforts of the thieves went unrewarded after breaking into the businesses when they were forced to make the hasty exit on foot.
“The good part is that when they ran away they dropped the majority of the property that they had stolen, so it was recovered,” said Luecke.
The investigation has brought forth a number of leads that Luecke said are being pursued.
“We’ve had what we consider to be some good information about this incident,” he said. “I’m hopeful that it will be resolved soon.”