Thieves smash through Detroit liquor store as bus sits outside

Thieves smashed their way into a Detroit liquor store as the owner watched helplessly in real time - all while a Detroit city bus sat parked outside.

The owner of Riviera Discount House on Grand River doesn't want to identify himself. But he contacted FOX 2 Wednesday morning just hours after he watch a car full of guys smash their way in to his store.

He said around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, he got an alert from his phone from his advanced security system, which is equipped with heat detection. He opened the app and watched a car full of guys smashing an SUV into the front door.

All this while a bus full of people was stopped just a few feet away. After the guys smashed their way in, the bus drove off.

"Just driving fast they were in here it broke my heart."

He kept watching in real time as the men were working their way through the business. He could see two guys filling up garbage cans full of his most expensive liquor.

"I live a half hour away and I was here before the police," he said.

It took almost 40 minutes for police to get there and by that time, they were long gone.

This was his dad's shop since 1980, he tells us he's been coming here to work since he was 14. 

"I'm very frustrated, this is a family store."

Now they're putting up a stronger door and hoping it keeps anyone from causing so much damage again.