Edmundson Golf Course Victim Of Break-In
Crime Scene
Oskaloosa, Iowa – It has become an all too often story lately of another business, car, or home being broken into.
Some of the more recent crimes, the perpetrators were apprehended for their alleged crimes, or have a warrant out for their arrest. Others, have gone unsolved, and new break-ins continue at a somewhat steady pace.
Late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, Edmundson Golf Course Pro Shop became the latest victim to the rash of high profile burglaries plaguing the community.
Matt Sherlock, who operates the facility, spoke about the break-in to Oskaloosa News.
Sherlock said that a window had been broken and the perpetrator(s) entered and exited the facility through that window.
Thirty to forty golf clubs, golf bags, apparel, petty cash, sunglasses and some personal items out of Sherlock’s office were all taken.
The loot was loaded onto a golf cart and transported to the southern most portion of the golf course, where it’s assumed that the ill-gotten goods were then loaded into a waiting vehicle. The vehicle was either full, or the alleged thieves got spooked, as they left behind one of the golf bags.
When it comes to identifying the person or persons responsible, Sherlock said there are some clues from the scene that have aided in potentially identifying the responsible party.
“I’d love to have my stuff back and have justice served for the crime, at the same time. I’m just looking to co-exist with everyone here,” added Sherlock.
Sherlock is a new business owner, and the loss definitely makes an impact on his young company’s bottom line. Ultimately, the owner is a victim, even if insurance helps to cover most of the loss. Sherlock added that he has worked for other places that have been broken into, and has seen the impact it played on those companies. “It’s just stuff. You’ll move on. It’s just stuff,” Sherlock had said during those previous experiences, when he was an employee versus a business owner. “That’s really easy to say until it’s your own stuff. When it’s your own stuff, the flavor and the taste in your mouth is a lot different.”
“Everyone’s going to give you advice and say, they could have trashed the place. They could have stolen more. Yeah, they could have, but it still stings deeper than what you realize when it’s your own stuff and your own space.
Sherlock said that this break-in hasn’t changed his opinion of Oskaloosa. “I still think this is a good community and I feel safe here. I’m not going to let this experience make me feel not safe in my own town.”
Sherlock believes that we live in a time when desperate people do desperate things.
Sherlock said that if the person or persons responsible are reading this, “You violated my personal space, but I don’t throw stones. I’ll tell ya, just bring my stuff back, pay for my window and we’ll probably just move on our way.”
If you have any information on this crime, or any other crime, contact the Oskaloosa Police Department at 641-672-2557.
If you are worried about reporting information to the police department, Sherlock says you are welcome to call him with any tips at 641-673-3100. “Any piece of information is going to be appreciated. I’m not going to grill you for information, just point me in the right direction. We’ll take it from there.”
