to get down to business. >> he finished cuffing me and he cuffed my partner and very dramatically said, gentlemen, this is a robbery. just do what we say and you won't get hurt. i said we don't get paid enough to get hurt. that kind of defused the situation a little bit. >> reporter: rick abath laughs about this now, but as soon as he was tied up by the two thieves, he realized how vulnerable he really was. >> i was panicking. i didn't realizes i was panicking but i was completely pan panicking. >> reporter: cheethe cheefbz le rick and his partner down to the basement to different places. rick's eyes and mouth were duct taped and he feared for his life. >> he was afraid that they were going to set the place on fire after they were done. maybe because i with a is right across from the boiler. about you that was my predominant fear was, god, i