$75K Equipment Stolen From West Linn Nonprofit: A Thief’s Folly

The recent theft of $75,000 worth of equipment from a West Linn nonprofit organization has left the community in shock. The CEO of Nonprofit Home Inspections, Charles Lewis, described the stolen items as "useless" to the thieves, highlighting the irony of the situation.

Key Takeaways

Incident Overview: A break-in at a storage unit resulted in the theft of specialized equipment.
Thieves’ Miscalculation: The stolen equipment requires a four-digit code to operate, rendering it useless to the criminals.
Community Impact: The nonprofit’s mission to provide essential home inspections to low-income families is jeopardized.

The Incident

On a Wednesday night, while preparing for bed, Charles Lewis received an alert from his Ring camera indicating motion at the storage unit. Upon checking, he was startled to see a masked intruder inside the unit.

"I was at home and getting ready for bed, and I hear an alert, my phone beeps and says, there’s motion at our storage unit," Lewis recounted.

Initially frozen in fear, he quickly decided to act. The thief managed to knock over one camera but was captured on another, hastily grabbing equipment before fleeing the scene.

Minutes later, West Linn police arrived, guns drawn, and a K9 unit was deployed to search the area. Unfortunately, the thief had already escaped.

A Second Break-In

In a twist of fate, the storage unit was broken into again just hours later. This time, the intruder used a hacksaw or angle grinder to cut through the exterior door and remove the new lock.

Lewis estimated that this second break-in resulted in an additional loss of $35,000 to $40,000 worth of equipment.

The Nonprofit’s Mission

Nonprofit Home Inspections aims to provide essential home inspections on a sliding scale for low-income families. Their services include testing for radon, mold, and asbestos, ensuring that homes are safe and healthy for residents.

Lewis emphasized the importance of the stolen equipment, stating, "For us, it is lifesaving because we can detect if there’s this radioactive gas in a home."

The Thieves’ Folly

Despite the significant monetary loss, Lewis pointed out that the stolen equipment is essentially worthless to the thieves.

"It requires a four-digit code to be able to get in there. So they are not going to be able to unlock this," he explained.

Hope for Recovery

While insurance will cover only a fraction of the losses, Lewis remains hopeful that the footage from the surveillance cameras will aid the West Linn police in apprehending the culprits.

"I’m hopeful with our footage, with getting the word out, with the footage from the complex here that the West Linn police can help apprehend these guys and put a stop to this nonsense," he stated.

The community is rallying around the nonprofit, emphasizing the need for safety and support for organizations that serve vulnerable populations.

As the investigation continues, the hope is that justice will be served, and the stolen equipment will be recovered, allowing Nonprofit Home Inspections to continue its vital work in the community.