A Southern California plumber whose work van and $30,000 worth of tools were stolen is frustrated after the suspect, who was arrested, was immediately released.
The victim, Robert Powell, is still out of work and doesn’t know how long it’ll take to replace his stolen tools and equipment.
The theft happened on March 28 as home surveillance cameras captured the brazen theft outside his Gardena home.
“At 4:30 a.m., they came and took it,” Powell said, on the verge of tears. “It’s hard to replace $30,000 worth of equipment that has taken you 10 years to accumulate.”
Video shows two suspects in an SUV pulling up to Powell’s work van, breaking into it and driving it away.
Later that morning, the van was found abandoned in South Gate. However, all of Powell’s valuable and expensive tools were gone.
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber’s work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell) 
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber’s work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell) 
Robert Powell is devastated after thieves escape with his work van and around $30,000 worth of expensive tools. (KTLA) 
Robert Powell found some of his stolen tools being sold on the resale app OfferUp. (KTLA) 
Only three tools were recovered after thieves escaped with $30,000 worth of tools from a Gardena plumber. (KTLA) 
Robert Powerll found some of his stolen tools being sold on the resale app OfferUp. (KTLA) 
Suspects driving away with a Gardena plumber’s work van that was parked on his driveway on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell) 
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber’s work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell) 
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber’s work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell) 
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber’s work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
On April 5, Powell confirmed a suspect was arrested for the theft, however, most of his tools remain missing yet the suspect was released from custody.
“I’m angry,” he said. “I’m just baffled. The crime continues to keep going and going and there is just no recourse.”
Powell is frustrated and said he believes the criminal justice system is too lenient for such costly thefts.
“It’s a victimless crime, is what I was told by one of the police officers who came out to my house,” Powell said. “That the state of California considers it a victimless crime.”
Powell and his daughter, however, saw things differently. The theft had completely destroyed his business and livelihood. Desperate to get back on his feet, they began searching for the stolen tools online and eventually found them on the resale app OfferUp.
He knew the items belonged to him because his initials had been placed on the tools.
He contacted the Gardena Police Department which agreed to help him track down the seller of the stolen tools.
“They said they were gonna get a search warrant,” Powell recalled. “They were going to pretend they were a buyer and buy the tools and then serve the search warrant on his house.”
When they searched the suspect’s home, police said, “Every room was packed with tools,” Powell recalled.
Despite the successful bust and a house full of equipment, Powell had only recovered three of his stolen tools.
“They only brought one truckload,” he said. “And I understand they did everything they could but still, this guy has all these tools inside his house.”‘
Powell said he was told that most of his tools, at least the expensive ones, had been sold.
“I appreciate the effort, but I think it should’ve went further,” he said. “All the tools should’ve been taken out of the man’s house and put up someplace where people could go and look for their [stolen] tools. I don’t know why they didn’t bring everything out of his house after they arrested him for stealing tools. Why they didn’t, I have no idea.”
Even though losing his tools was devastating, Powell said the most upsetting part was the suspect being released almost immediately after his arrest.
“All I know is that he was released before I even got my tools,” he said. “We have to do something to change the laws in California. We’ve got to stop letting these people go back on the streets. It’s not a victimless crime. This is going to cost me.”
In October 2023, Los Angeles County’s zero bail policy took effect which eliminated the cash bail system for all but the most serious crimes
The zero bail policy allows some suspects accused of misdemeanors or nonviolent/non-serious crimes to be cited and released when they would have previously been held on bond.
“He’s probably going to be out tonight searching around again for more trucks to steal because there is no recourse for the crimes that he has committed,” Powell said.
A GoFundMe page to help Powell rebuild his plumbing business can be found here.
KTLA has reached out to Gardena police for further comment on the case, but has not heard back.
