‘We may have never recovered’: 10 days into opening, SOHO vintage store was hit by an attempted robbery, but a hero broke protocol to save them

Ten days into the grand opening of Rebelonging, a vintage shop in SoHo, the store found itself the target of an attempted robbery. It could have easily spelled the end for the young New York City business. However, the thieves didn’t plan for Tyrell Gibbs. Gibbs, the store’s security guard, broke protocol and put himself in harm’s way to protect the store. 

The founder of the shop, who posts under the name krisjngg on TikTok, shared, “Ten days into opening our vintage store in Soho, we were hit with an attempted robbery. Four thieves with giant garbage bags came looking to come clear us out. And our amazing security guard, Ty, single-handedly prevented this crime. We might not have ever recovered from it. This is Ty, the true hero of our story. He broke all protocols to keep us safe.”

According to The New York Post, the incident occurred on June 22. 34-year-old Gibbs, they noted, has an eight-year resume in security and hotel service, and used his past as a football player to handle the situation. “You meet them at the line of scrimmage,” Gibbs explained. “That’s what we were doing — I felt like if I met them at that point and addressed them there, that he would go away versus me allowing them to come to me.”

It was a quick but tense confrontation

The surveillance footage shows the chaotic moment when a girl in a head scarf and sunglasses entered the shop, with Gibbs holding the door for her. Suddenly, two masked individuals attempted to rush the entrance. The outlet noted that Gibbs, utilizing his former training, physically blocked the door and shoved the intruders away until they eventually fled the scene. 

“I’m just trying to keep that door closed,” Gibbs told The New York Post. “It was hectic.” The group reportedly escaped in a white Acura, heading down West Broadway toward Canal Street.

Since the incident, Kris has been on a mission to ensure Gibbs receives the recognition and support he deserves. In her post, she shared that he works four jobs to provide for his family while putting his own entrepreneurial dreams on hold. 

In a GoFundMe campaign set up to support him, she wrote, “He is the most hardworking humble and kind person we have ever met and truly believe he deserves the world. He is a provider for everyone he meets from a smile on his face to brighten your day or his entire family, being their rock and working all these jobs to support them.”

TikTok only had praises to sing

A startling number of TikTokers suggested he pursue modeling, with one user saying, “Get Ty into modeling NOW.” However, just as many praised his bravery, one user commented, “He deserves all the flowers and more cause he really put his life out on the line…didn’t know if they had anything on them or nothing went into straight protection mode! A true man.” 

Another follower noted, “He did not hesitate. Huge courage. You’re doing amazing by honoring his bravery. He deserves it.” Others were quick to point out the reality of his situation, with one person writing, “Working 4 jobs is not a flex. I’m glad you guys gave him a bonus and a raise he shouldn’t need to do that.” 

Rebelonging is seeking a change

Gibbs himself remains humble about the event, reflecting on the broader economic pressures he believes contribute to such crimes. “I feel like it’s an economy-based thing,” he told The New York Post. “It’s been a real tough go for a lot of people coming off the pandemic, so I can only imagine what’s really going on in the household.” 

As for his actions during the robbery, he emphasized to the outlet that his goal was never to escalate violence. “It wasn’t to even fight,” Gibbs said. “I didn’t want to harm them, and I didn’t want to harm anybody else, but keeping every body safe, just creating a boundary between myself, the door and the open space of the door.”

The owners of Rebelonging are now looking into new safety measures to protect their staff and inventory. “We have only been open for a week and this is extremely frustrating but we need to get to the bottom of this to prevent this from happening to other businesses,” the shop stated on Instagram. 

In the meantime, TikTokers have been calling out other small businesses in New York. Recently, a woman alleged that a bakery ruined her friend’s 30th birthday. Last month, another woman claimed that she was fired from her salon job after confronting a customer’s racist remarks.