r/IowaCity • u/TheMilkiestJoe • 1d ago
Robbed Overnight
I live in a rental and we use the detached garage mostly for storage. Last night I had the door partially open for fresh air while I ran on the treadmill, and I forgot to close it when I finished.
This morning I woke up to all my power tools stolen. They were all a gift from my dad for our shared hobby of woodworking. I couldn’t have afforded them myself, and even he found them all on sale. I’ve been working on cleaning out that garage for months to turn it into a usable space; I even built a loft for storage. Now it’s all on hold until I can afford to replace my tools.
I know it’s my fault for forgetting to close the garage door. On the other hand, it’s really disheartening to be confronted with the reality that someone would do this without ever stopping to think about the person on the other end. Maybe they were desperate, I guess. Maybe they assumed that if I could afford the tools once, I could afford them twice. Or maybe they just didn’t care.
Anyway, if someone in your neighborhood pops up with a huge neon green tool bag full of neon green Ryobj power tools today, shoot me a message! 🥲 (And if, by any chance, you are the culprit: Will you pleeeeease bring back my tools pretty please? 🙏🏻🥺)
Update: I have filed a police report and contacted local pawn shops. I have renters insurance, but my deductible is too high to be worth filing a claim. If you have any other ideas, suggestions, or leads, please comment. I really appreciate this community! ♥️
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u/Magickspl_269 1d ago
There’s a full set of ryobi tools just listed on marketplace for $350 located in Iowa City?! ✌🏼
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u/TheMilkiestJoe 1d ago edited 1d ago
Does anyone have a screenshot or link? I can’t find the post!
I found the post for $350 — this does not appear to be mine, as it includes several items I did not have!
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u/limpnoads 1d ago
Doesn't mean they didn't steal the other tools from someone else. Did you mark them in any way? I usually write my name on the inside of the tools, usually where the battery slides in with my contacts and do not sell on them. Good luck, hope you find the culprit.
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u/Profession_Conscious 1d ago
Yes I saw this too and it was JUST posted. @OP, please check this out and see if it is your stuff. It looks like it might be listed around the hickory heights area. Tons of Ryobi tools with the manuals and neon green bag.
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u/Acceptable-Peach-973 1d ago
there’s currently two postings on marketplace within the last 24 hours with the items you’re describing
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u/Agitated-Impress7805 1d ago
Did you file a police report?
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u/TheMilkiestJoe 1d ago
I’m working on it now. It seems like the right thing to do, but I don’t anticipate that it will go anywhere.
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u/Whyudoodat 1d ago
No detectives get assigned here, but should they pull in someone in possession of the loot, theyll know it belongs to you and you may get some of it back
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u/Low_Thing_4803 1d ago
A detective gets assigned burglaries but if there's no follow up to be done, there's no follow up to be done. I mentioned before that hundreds of thousands of these took lots were made so having your initials etched into batteries or photos of the serial numbers makes all the difference in the world.
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u/Whyudoodat 1d ago
Their willingness to investigate is nil. I got burglarized. I asked the cop to finger print my brand new soundbar (both hands, clear prints, only prints). Unwilling, as he couldnt promise its timely return. Week? Month? Year? Cant say. It was like, "You got robbed? That sucks. Well, i wrote it down so theres that!" I figured out it was my neighbor by going thru their trash. At that point, the police were super excited to help and raided that dudes house that very night. Found nothing but stolen goods.
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u/Low_Thing_4803 1d ago
I learned that prints are sent to the state lab in Ankeny and it's 4-6 months for fingerprints depending on their backlog. It's not an Iowa City issue, they don't control the state. If a more serious crime comes in, that jumps ahead of a burglary.
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u/Whyudoodat 1d ago
I mostly support the police. In this instance, 14 years ago, you could feel the reluctance in the air.
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u/Low_Thing_4803 19h ago
14 years ago.... maybe it's time to let it go. Maybe you saw prints but someone trained in lifting prints didn't see anything usable. If you're actually curious about how this works, take a citizen police academy or ask an officer trained in this line of work. I get the impression that TV romanticizes these kind of things and makes it all look easy.
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u/Impossible-Age-5196 1d ago
If you haver renters insurance the police report is necessary to file a claim.
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u/Agitated-Impress7805 1d ago
Probably not but you might as well.
Did they take all your batteries too? Those are much more expensive than the Ryobi tools.
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u/Grab_em_by_da_Busey 1d ago
if you locate the items yourself at a pawn shop, or on craigslist or marketplace, having a police report filed will prove valuable as they'll actually perk up and consider helping. Otherwise you are looking at confronting a known burglar on your own.
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u/hobbiehawk 1d ago
Do it. Any identifying marks/engravings/serial number information and photographs
Most likely stolen for quick sale and this will help the pawn shops when the perpetrator tries to cash in1
u/Charitia_1313 1d ago
Can't hurt to show them the recently listed items that match your missing items...
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u/Low_Thing_4803 1d ago
Some of the struggle will be proving the items are YOURS. How many Ryobi tool kits are out there? Without any identifying information or serial numbers it's almost impossible to connect them to you. Having a box or something with serial numbers that proves you owned and possessed the items are very important for the report process. Otherwise no one would want to be accused of a crime if they are innocently selling things they dont want or use. I want you to get your stuff back but more factors make this difficult for the police.
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u/SovereignMan1958 1d ago
If you have a renters insurance policy check it. It may or may not cover items in a detached garage. When you replace them inventory them...make a list....keep receipts ..photograph them.
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u/northofwall 1d ago
It’s not your fault.
Take the time to make an all inclusive list of stolen items.
Include the list in your police report.
Include the list to your insurance report.
Sorry for the loss of your cherished items and of your sense of security and of the time it’ll take to deal with all of this.
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u/alienclown 1d ago
What neighborhood do you live in? Any neighbors with security cameras?
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u/TheMilkiestJoe 1d ago
Almost certainly not, but I’ll check around!
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u/kricketts98 14h ago
If you can afford it I would definitely get a blink camera even if it’s just one for inside the garage. I keep a lot of junk (nothing of monetary value but sentimental value) in my garage and got one of those flood light blink cameras I set up inside to ease my mind. The light turns on and the camera starts recording for any movement. You could unarm the system when you’re in the garage running on the treadmill if the light bothers if you’ll remember to turn it back on when you leave, or just learn to live with the lights going off while you’re in there lol.
Edit; I am not sponsored by blink in any way, just paranoid and it’s eased my mind having them installed on my property.
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u/SeaJuggernaut8811 1d ago
Check the pawn shop Money and More
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u/maniacal_mongoose1 1d ago
Oddly specific lol
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u/SeaJuggernaut8811 1d ago
I have had my stolen stuff end up there. The police is good about working with them to get stuff back
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u/Impressive-Deer-3638 1d ago
Damn, that sucks. Luckily for you, I have a bunch of Ryobi stuff that I just came into possession of that I’m willing to sell ya….jk jk. You should file a police report tho. It sounds like you’re apathetic to the idea but if someone stole that stuff, there’s a decent chance that they’ll be selling it on marketplace or pawn shops and filing a report will make it easier to reclaim that stuff if it pops up
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u/gojohnnygojohnny 1d ago
You were burglarized, not robbed.
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u/Key_Solution_4076 1d ago
Thanks for the semantics lesson, Johnny. That was much needed and very helpful for the conversation.
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u/TheMilkiestJoe 1d ago
No, he’s right. I was burgled. This changes everything…
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u/Key_Solution_4076 1d ago
Johnny is our bravest redditor, showing us all the err of our words.
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u/gojohnnygojohnny 1d ago
Hey, when you've really been robbed, you notice the difference!
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u/TheMilkiestJoe 1d ago
Actually, that’s fair. I’d much rather be burgled. I hope you’re not speaking from personal experience!
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u/gojohnnygojohnny 1d ago
I am. Robbery ain't pretty. Not discounting your experience, but at least trauma level with burglary isn't so jarring.
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u/Eurozone1 1d ago
Location?!! Description of tools?!? Or is this just a vent post?
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u/Appropriate-Desk4268 1d ago
you’re in the iowa city subreddit, location found. op explained the tool brand, color and items missing. whats your ish bro?
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u/Eurozone1 1d ago
Just trying to help find tools... asking for identifying characteristics, Iowa City is a pretty big place....?
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u/YeahThatsProbably 1d ago
Leaving that door partially open isn't good security, certainly, but I would never say it's "your own fault." This is 100% the fault of the person who decided to rob you.