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Estimated $200,000 in suspected stolen power tools seized from southwest Indianapolis home

Detectives discovered a large amount of suspected stolen equipment at a home in the 3200 block of West Epler Avenue Thursday morning.

INDIANAPOLIS — Metro police are looking for a man suspected of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of power tools and equipment from area businesses.

Investigators collected suspected stolen power tools for several hours Thursday morning from the home on West Epler Avenue. The stash could rival a small hardware store.

"He tried to sell me some tools a few times,” said neighbor Ben Adams. “But I didn't know where they come from or anything, so I said no."

A SWAT team came to the house Wednesday afternoon with an arrest warrant looking for a burglary suspect. Police are not releasing the name of the suspect. They didn't find him, but they found his apparent loot and returned Thursday morning with a search warrant.

Police estimate they've recovered up to $200,000 worth of stolen equipment. Most of the items are power tools, but investigators also seized lawn equipment, riding mowers, rifles, and even what was left of a shot up car that was reported stolen.

Adams was stunned by the amount of merchandise found at the property.

“I had no idea,” said Adams. “I thought he had just a few items, but I guess there's quite a few. I'm 79 years old and I ain't stole nothing. So what I've got is paid for. I ain't stole nothing. Don't plan to. I don't like a thief and I don't like a liar."

Some clearly marked tools were already returned to their rightful owners, who were called to the property.   

"What aggravates all of us is the fact that most of these tools are taken from people who work every day,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Ofc. Genae Cook. “These are all tools that people use for construction or home remodels, anything like this. This is the people who get affected the worst, because, just like you and I, something gets stolen - we're out that."

Call IMPD's Southwest District at 317-327-6400 with serial numbers if you think items that belong to you may have been recovered.

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