Police Seeking Help in Beating Case

A pile of Manila folders sits atop a filing cabinet at Bob’s Garage, chock-full of names of customers who could not pay for repairs.

Repair shop owner Robert “Bob” Schockow extended credit to a lot of them, his secretary said.

“Sometimes I say, ‘Bob, we aren’t a bank, we have bills too,’ ” the secretary said.

Employees, nearby business owners and family members, who all describe Schockow as a gruff man with a heart of gold, said Thursday they’re still stunned by last week’s attack on Schockow that put him in the hospital with head injuries.

Customers found the 60-year-old man on the floor of his shop about 9 p.m. Saturday, after being badly bludgeoned in the parking lot behind his office. When police arrived at the business on East Thompson Boulevard, a large amount of money had been taken from Schockow’s wallet.

As police continued their investigation, Schockow remained hospitalized in fair condition Thursday with a bandage over one eye, hospital officials and relatives said.

The beating came as a “total surprise,” said brother Don Schockow, who manages an auto shop in Oxnard.

“He’s just a good-hearted person,” Don Schockow said. “He helped out a lot of people that couldn’t afford to get their cars worked on and carried on accounts that I would never do. That’s the reason it’s kind of a shame.”

Acquaintances of Bob Schockow say that the man is as stubborn as he is kindhearted. Friends and relatives said they all told him not to carry so much cash on him, but he wouldn’t listen.

“If we tell him, ‘Bob, you’re going to be bumped,’ he says, ‘My hands are licensed, I know judo,” ’ said an employee, recounting one of Schockow’s typical jokes.

Employees said Schockow had mentioned around Thanksgiving that he had received death threats at home.

Police are asking that anyone with information on the robbery and beating call Sgt. Gary McCaskill at 339-4482.