SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The morning of Dec. 18 was like any other one for Cyron Fisher's neighborhood in north Springfield on North Main Avenue.
"First time anything like this has ever happened in the area and hopefully it will be the last," said Fisher.
When he saw four men dressed in blue jeans, hooded sweatshirts and face masks on his street, he knew something was wrong.
The suspects were carrying items out of his neighbor's house.
"They were carrying a gun safe and putting it in the van," Fisher said.
The gun safe is not all they took. According to an affidavit, police say a handful of items were stolen including: four rifles, a handgun, a shotgun, two Zach Brown Band concert tickets, TV equipment, A Xbox 360 and a computer.
Fisher saw the thieves loading items into a brown minivan. That's when his radar went up.
"I knew it did not belong. I started to walk up there to get a picture of it and its license plate," Fisher said.
As he took out his cell phone, one of the thieves approached him.
"He acted like he had a gun in his pocket. I just kept trying to take a picture."
That's when Fisher says the man attacked.
"He kicked at me and swung at me a few times and hit me in the face. He messed up my glasses a little bit."
Fisher hit the ground. The thieves took off with his cell phone.
"I really at that time did not think to defend myself. I thought it was more important to get the picture," Fisher said.
He made it back his house and called 911. Looking back, he says he was just doing the right thing.
"People thanked me. They really did not understand why I did it either. I guess it does not happen here much anymore."
Fisher and neighbors we spoke with say they feel safe in their neighborhood, but will form a watch group to beef up security.
A short list of the stolen items, including Fisher's cell phone, were recovered. Major items like the rifles and guns are still missing.
Police are investigating the burglary and searching for three of the four suspected thieves.
Qwenten Amlin is in custody in the Greene County Jail and is charged with first-degree burglary. He is due in court next Wednesday.
