VETERAN: Stolen tools burden family

I am a husband, a dad, a veteran and a small business owner, working part time while also running a construction/property management company. Work slows during winter, making finances pretty tight around the holidays. 

On Dec. 5th, around 3:30 p.m., I accidentally left work with my tailgate down, taking 4th Street from downtown Cd’A to near the split by Dave Smith Frontier Sales. When I took off from the stop light, my orange Home Depot bucket fell from my vehicle — with power tools, hand tools and multiple power tool batteries inside. A passerby alerted me, and I turned around at Denny’s. 

Returning to the stop light (from the opposite direction), I saw an older man in a grey SUV with Idaho plates collecting my bucket and the tools/batteries. There was also a gold SUV with Idaho plates behind him. Both vehicles had hazard lights on.  

I honked and hollered out my window that the items were mine and I would be right there. He looked up at me and made eye contact as I drove through the light. Because of the 4th Street split, I had to go around the block. By the time I circled around Dave Smith, both the man who picked up the items and the other vehicle with him had left, and I could not find them.  

I have filed reports with the Coeur d’Alene police and the county sheriff and contacted nearby businesses. I don’t want to press charges, but I have few options left. I know exactly what was in the bucket, and nothing was left behind. I simply request the return of my tools, which include multiple Milwaukee batteries valued at over $1,500. 

I use my tools and batteries every day for work. Without them, I face another financial hurdle. By spreading word about what happened, hopefully a witness will come forward — or better yet, the one who took my items may read it and realize returning the things that help me provide for my family is the right thing to do.  

 Semper Fi, but currently in need, 

CODY FREER

Sagle