Theft of property valued at $400K a blow to YC business
It was more than a theft of things.
A local businessman said his means for a livelihood were stolen this weekend when thieves took his two utility trucks, tools and equipment – a total value of about $400,000.
“We don’t even know what we’re going to do,” the owner’s wife, Gina Marie Brown, said Monday. “In a sense, they stole (my husband’s) company.”
Brandon Brown Handyman Service in the 2000 block of Butte House Road was broken into early Sunday. Gina Marie Brown said Yuba City police told her officers passed by the thieves driving out the trucks, but thought it was her husband tending to an earlymorning call around 4:30 a.m. She said even employees’ orange work shirts were stolen.
Sgt. Dennis Hauck said thieves entered through a roll-up door on the back of the business.
So far, police don’t have any leads and there was no surveillance footage or alarm activation, Hauck said.
Brandon Brown said the trucks have been spotted in Chico and Shasta since the burglary. Though they are older, Brown said the trucks were kept in great shape.
“It’s a devastating blow,” Brown said Monday. “It took six years to accumulate, one dollar at a time.”
With four full-time employees, Brown said he is unsure how he can absorb a hit like this, as insurance doesn’t cover the losses.
But, on Monday morning, Brown got up and went to work like normal, surprising his customer, The Cookie Tree, which wasn’t expecting him to show after the burglary.
“They can’t steal what we have: integrity and hard work,” Brown said. “We get the job done regardless. They can’t steal us getting up and going to work every day.”
Brown said he thinks it’s too late to recover his stolen property but hopes locals will be on the lookout to prevent anyone else being burglarized.
Gina Marie Brown said a GoFundMe page is being set up – though Brown is hesitant about it – to offset the stolen tools and equipment as employees and customers are relying on the business. Those interested will eventually find a link on the company’s Facebook page, or will be able to search GoFundMe Brandon Brown Handyman Service.
Anyone with information about the theft or stolen items should call the Yuba City Police Department at 822-4661.